According to a Cricbuzz report, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is likely to part ways with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the upcoming IPL season.
While the exact reasons behind the development are not yet clear, Ashwin is understood to have made up his mind and is believed to have communicated his decision to the franchise. It is still uncertain whether his decision stems from any indication of CSK’s future plans.
As reported by Cricbuzz earlier, top CSK officials and players—including former and current captains MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad—have been meeting in Chennai over the last few days, with discussions believed to be centered around team strategy for the next season.
One of the key indicators of Ashwin’s possible exit is his expected decision to step down from the role of Director of Operations at the CSK Academy—a position he has held for the past year. If he were to move to another IPL franchise, continuing in that role could present a potential conflict of interest, something Ashwin reportedly wishes to avoid.
Ashwin was a high-profile buy for CSK at INR 9.75 crore in the previous auction, marking his return to the franchise after nine years. He played nine matches for CSK last season.
A veteran of 221 IPL games, Ashwin has taken 187 wickets at an economy rate of 7.29 and scored 833 runs at a strike rate of 118. The off-spinner began his IPL journey with CSK, spending his first eight seasons (2008–2015) with the franchise, before stints with Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals.
It remains to be seen whether Ashwin will be traded or will re-enter the auction pool ahead of the new season. Either way, a player of his calibre is expected to attract interest across the league.
