is no stranger to records and even calling it a day allowed him to achieve a rather unique feat. In fact, it was something no player in the 147 years of Test cricket has ever done.

Imagine going into the record books by simply retiring. For Ashwin that is a reality. He has gone into uncharted territory.

When retired, he had played 106 Tests. He is one of 14 Indians and 78 players overall to have made it to three-figures. But he is the only one of these cricketers to have never played a Test against Pakistan.

© X/BCCI

Yes, that is right. represented India in whites from 2010 to 2024 and not once did he get to take the field against our rivals across the border. India last played Pakistan in a Test back in 2007 and Ashwin was yet to make his debut at that time. Due to political tensions, there has been no Test cricket since then and Ashwin missed out.

As of now, he is the only player to retire with over 100 Test caps and never play Pakistan. He could be joined by two other Indian legends pretty soon. Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara have both played over 100 Tests. Pujara has been out of the side for 18 months while Kohli is in the twilight of his career. Kohli turned 36 this year and Pujara is a month away from turning 37. It is unlikely that India and Pakistan will play a Test series or a one-off Test while they are still active.

© X/BCCI

The only way we could see a Test between India and Pakistan is if both qualify for the World Test Championship. The odds of an India vs Pakistan final in 2025 is pretty low as Pakistan's chances are all but ruled out and India are also hanging by a thread. Should they even have a shot in 2027, the odds are both Kohli and Pujara will have retired by then. So they are all set to join Ashwin in this exclusive club.

Ashwin called time after the Brisbane Test vs Australia ended in a draw on December 18. He was not playing in it, his last appearance was the Adelaide Test. Ashwin finished with 537 scalps, the second-highest for India, seventh overall and he still has the best strike rate among bowlers with over 500 victims in red-ball cricket. He shares second spot for most Test fifers with Shane Warne and the top position for most Player of the Series Awards with Muttiah Muralitharan. Other than Muralitharan, Ashwin is the only player with over 500 victims to have an average of over five wickets per game. A legend indeed.