Ashwin announces retirement from international cricket

"It's a very emotional moment," Ashwin said.

"I have had a lot of fun, I have made a lot of memories alongside Rohit and my other teammates."

Champion bowler Ravichandran Ashwin has taken more wickets against Australia than any other country. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

Ashwin played 106 Tests for India since his 2011 debut, taking 537 wickets.

The offspinner took more wickets against Australia than any other country, with 115 at 28.58 in 23 Tests against them.

He was also a reliable lower order batter with 3503 runs and six Test centuries. Ashwin is the only player in Test history to pick up 450 wickets and make more than five hundreds.

India captain Rohit Sharma said he was aware of Ashwin's desire to walk away since the first Test in Perth, but convinced him to play in Adelaide last week.

The 38-year-old spinner was then left out of the third Test in Brisbane, with Ravindra Jadeja taking his spot.

"He felt if I am not needed now in the series, I am better off saying goodbye to the team," captain Rohit Sharma said.

Ashwin's call means he will not be available for the final two Tests in Australia, with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar the two remaining spinners in the squad.

Ashwin thanked his teammates, coaches and opponents but did not take any questions as he made the announcement alongside Rohit at the post-Test press conference due to the emotion of the moment. 

Rohit delivered a moving tribute to a fantastic cricketer he had known since they were both teenagers.

"I have played cricket with Ash since under 17s when he was an opening batsman. Then we all disappeared and a few years later I am hearing about Ash taking five and seven wickets and I was wondering who this guy is," Rohit grinned.

"In international cricket we met again and had a long, long journey together since 2010. We all know what he has done for this team as one of the true matchwinners India has ever seen. When there was a crisis we looked to Ash and he was there to deliver for us."

Rohit stressed the India team did not question Ashwin's decision and supported him every step of the way.

 "Ashwin has been with us for so many years and is allowed to make those decisions on his own," he said.

"We as his teammates have to respect it. He was very sure about what he wanted to do. The team completely backs him. 

"There are obviously a lot of things behind it but he understands what the team is thinking and want kind of combinations we are thinking. When we came here we were not sure which spinners were going to play. We were going to assess (based on) what kind of conditions were in front of us. 

"When I arrived in Perth this was the chat we had. I somehow convinced him to stay for the pink-ball Test match."

Australia captain Pat Cummins said Ashwin was in the highest echelon of Test cricketers.

"It was a bit of a surprise," Cummins said when asked about Ashwin's retirement.

"He has been a fantastic player all around the world. There aren't too many finger spinners that have that longevity and he will go down as one of the all-time greats and a fantastic competitor.

"I have had a lot of fantastic battles with him over the years in Australia and India. There is massive respect in our change room for the career that he has had."