Former captain Sunil Gavaskar didn’t appreciate the timing of Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement call on Wednesday, saying the off-spinner could have waited for the series against Australia to end as India will now be one member short in the remaining two Tests.

“He could have said, listen after the end of the series, I won’t be available for selection for India. What it does is that, similarly when MS Dh­oni retired at the end of the third Test in 2014-15, it leaves you one short,” Gavaskar told the broadcasters.

“The selection committee has picked so many players for a tour with a purpose. If there are any injuries, they can select from the reserve players to have in the team.”

Gavaskar felt that Ashwin could have had a role to play in the last Test of the five-match series in Sydney, where the pitch has offered support to the spinners.

“So, Sydney is somewhere where there is a lot of support on offer for spinners. So India could have played with two spinners. You never know. He could have been there for sure. I don’t know how the pitch in Melbourne will be like. Normally, you tend to look at the end of the series. That’s it. In the middle, it is not usual,” Gavaskar said.

India chose to play Washington Sundar in the series opener ahead of Ashwin.

Asked if Washington was being groomed to replace Ashwin, Gavaskar said, “Maybe he (Sundar) is ahead of him.

“Rohit mentioned that he is flying out tomorrow (Thursday). So, this marks the end of Ashwin as an international cricketer. He has been one heck of a cricketer,” Gavaskar said.

Sachin Tendulkar too paid rich tributes to Ashwin. “I’ve always admired how you approached the game with your mind and heart in perfect sync. From perfecting the carrom ball to contributing crucial runs, you always found a way to win,” Tendulkar posted on X.

“Watching you grow from a promising talent to one of India’s finest match-winners has been wonderful. Your journey shows that true greatness lies in never being afraid to experiment and evolve. Your legacy will inspire one and all. Wishing you all the very best for your 2nd innings.”