“Have to find a different way to love it” - Retired star’s wife gets emotional ahead of ENG vs IND 2025 1st Test

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin's wife, Prithi Narayanan, has shared an emotional post ahead of the Test series between England and India. England are hosting India for a five-match series with the first Test beginning Friday, June 20, at Headingley in Leeds.

Prithi Narayanan shared a story on her Instagram handle in which she spoke about her approach to watching Test cricket post her husband's retirement. Ashwin bid adieu to international cricket during the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series in December last year.

"Test match day for India and I woke up with many mixed feelings. Have to find a different way to love it and unlearn the only way I knew to," Prithi wrote.

Screenshot of Prithi Narayanan's Instagram story - Source: Prithi Narayanan/IG

Shubman Gill will be leading the Indian team with several new faces at the fore, while Ben Stokes will captain England. As the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle begins, both teams will be determined to start on a positive note.

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Ravichandran Ashwin's Test career for India

Veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin made his Test debut for India back in 2011 against the West Indies. Ashwin went on to establish himself among the finest spinners in the format with his consistent performances over the years.

He also became a reliable all-rounder, delivering some key performances at crucial times with the bat. Overall, Ashwin played 106 Tests in his international career and picked up 537 wickets at an average of 24.00 with 37 five-wicket hauls and eight 10-wicket hauls.

He ended as the second highest wicket-taker for the country in the format, only behind former captain and legend Anil Kumble, who has 619 Test wickets to his name.

With the bat, Ashwin scored 3,503 runs at an average of 25.75 including six hundreds and 14 half-centuries. In his last Test series in Australia, the 38-year-old featured in only one Test — the second game in Adelaide. After he was left out once again for the third Test, he announced his retirement mid-way through the series.