Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday after being persuaded by captain Rohit Sharma to stay in Australia a few weeks longer despite missing selection for the opening Test in Perth.

Ashwin, who played in the second Test against Australia in Adelaide, but was not selected for the next match in Brisbane, announced his decision at a post-match press conference. However, he did not take questions from the media because he thought he would become too emotional.

The 38-year-old, one of India’s greatest players, had been mulling over the decision for a number of weeks. He will return to India on Thursday and take no further part in the Border-Gavaskar series.

“I somehow convinced him to stay for that pink ball Test match [in Adelaide],” Rohit told reporters after play was abandoned on day five with the Brisbane Test ending in a draw.

“He felt that if I’m not needed right now in the series, I’m better off saying goodbye to the game.

“He’s been a truly big match winner. He gets to make those decisions on his own and if it was now, then so be it.”

Ashwin will end his decorated career with 537 Test wickets at an average of 24. Only six players have taken more wickets in Tests: Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708), Jimmy Anderson (704), Anil Kumble (619), Stuart Broad (604) and Glenn McGrath (563).

In 23 Tests against Australia, Ashwin took 115 wickets at 28.58.

“I didn’t want to make this about myself,” Ashwin said. “This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level. I do feel there’s a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to showcase that in club level cricket.