India's premier off-spinner R Ashwin on Wednesday surprised the cricketing world by announcing his retirement with immediate effect in the middle of the Test series against Australia. Ashwin retires from the game as the second highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 games, leaving him only behind Anil Kumble (619 wickets). He will continue to play club cricket."I won't take too much of your time. Today will be the last day for me as an India cricketer," Ashwin said at the end of the drawn third Test here in a joint press conference with captain Rohit Sharma during which he declined to take any questions and left after making the announcement.He said, "There's a bit left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to exploit it at the domestic and club-level cricket, but this would be the last day (at the international level)."ALSO READ: R Ashwin announces retirement from international cricket "I have had a lot of fun, a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my other teammates. We've lost some of them over the last few years, we've been the last bunch of OGs I can say that are left out in the dressing room. I can mark this as my last day in the dressing room."He said, "I have several people to thank, but I would be failing in my duties if I didn't thank the BCCI and my teammates. I want to name a few of them, all the coaches who've been part of the journey, most importantly Rohit, Virat, Ajinkya, Pujara, who have taken a number of catches around the bat and have given men a number of wickets that I've managed over a number of years.""Also want to thank the Australian team who've been fierce competitors over a number of years, I've enjoyed my team playing against them. It's already getting long, I wouldn't be taking any questions, truly emotional moments and I'm not in a position to answer any questions in the right manner."ALSO READ: WTC Points Table: Will India still qualify for World Test Championship final after draw in Brisbane?Once again, thanks for being the journalists you've been, for writing good things, and some nasty things at times, said Ashwin."It's a relationship I think we'll maintain forever and I hope you give the other cricketers the same amount of love that you showered upon me. I've stopped as a cricketer, but I'll go on and be involved with the game, it's a game which has given me a lot."The 38-year-old played the day-night Test in Adelaide and picked up one wicket."He was very, very sure of his decision. We should stand by what he wants," said Rohit after Ashwin left the stage.He was seen sharing an emotional moment with star batter Virat Kohli in the dressing room hours before the announcement."A name synonymous with mastery, wizardry, brilliance, and innovation," said the BCCI in its tribute post on X.