Ravichandran Ashwin has officially called time on his Indian Premier League (IPL) career. The veteran off-spinner announced his decision on X, hinting at exploring franchise cricket opportunities across the globe.
“They say every ending will have a new start. My time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today, but my time as an explorer of the game across various leagues begins today,” Ashwin posted.
The 38-year-old had a much-hyped homecoming this year after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bought him for INR 9.75 crore. However, his season proved underwhelming, with only seven wickets in nine matches, and reports earlier this month confirmed his and CSK’s parting of ways.
Ashwin retires as one of the IPL’s greats—221 matches, 187 wickets, and the fifth-highest wicket-taker in league history, having featured in 16 of the 18 seasons since his 2009 debut.
CSK Glory Days
Ashwin played a pivotal role in CSK’s title-winning campaigns in 2010 and 2011, collecting 13 and 20 wickets respectively. He was also Player of the Series in CSK’s Champions League T20 triumph in 2010. One of his most iconic IPL moments came in the 2011 final, when he dismissed Chris Gayle for a duck in the opening over, setting the tone for CSK’s win over RCB. He later added a second Champions League T20 crown in 2014.
Journeyman Years
After CSK’s suspension in 2016, Ashwin represented Rising Pune Supergiant under MS Dhoni, before missing the 2017 season due to injury. In 2018, Punjab Kings secured him for INR 7.60 crore, even handing him the captaincy, though results didn’t go their way. He was then traded to Delhi Capitals in 2020, before joining Rajasthan Royals in 2022 for INR 5 crore, where he formed a formidable spin duo with Yuzvendra Chahal.
Despite solid returns in his first two seasons with RR, Ashwin’s numbers dipped in 2024 (7 wickets at 8.49 economy). Released by RR, he returned to CSK in 2025 but struggled to leave a mark, marking the end of an illustrious IPL career.
From a young Chennai lad making his debut under MS Dhoni to becoming one of the most cerebral bowlers in IPL history, Ashwin’s journey comes full circle with CSK. While the IPL chapter has closed, the seasoned spinner is ready to script new stories on the global T20 circuit.
