Ravichandran Ashwin announces his IPL retirement
Seasoned spin all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his exit from the IPL. The all-rounder stamped his international retirement late last year during the Border Gavaskar Trophy down under. The last season of the T20 league witnessed Ashwin returning to where it all started over a decade ago. Chennai Super Kings onboarded the spinner for ₹9.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Hailing from Tamil Nadu, Ashwin kicked off his IPL career with CSK, which paved the way for the all-rounder to enter the Indian cricket team in 2010. Over a decade later, as Ashwin now bows out of the T20 league, the veteran retires as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the IPL. Meanwhile, Ashwin, in his parting statement, hinted that he now aims to explore other leagues in the next phase of his cricket career.
Special day and hence a special beginning.
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) August 27, 2025
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 around various leagues begins today🤓.
Would like to thank all the franchisees for all the…
Ravichandran Ashwin confirms IPL retirement, set to 'explore the the game around various leagues'
Ravichandran Ashwin entered the Indian Premier League when Chennai Super Kings picked the Tamil Nadu spinner in 2009. Ashwin's rise in the IPL and eventually the Indian team setup was swift from there onwards. In 2010, the all-rounder was termed the 'Player of the Series' as CSK won the Champions League. Meanwhile, Ashwin spent six seasons with CSK, winning the IPL title twice during his time in the franchise, now regarded as the most successful team in IPL history.
Following his exit from CSK, Ravichandran Ashwin played for multiple teams, cruising among the likes of Rising Pune Supergiants, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals. Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, Ashwin was released from the RR squad. Meanwhile, CSK chased the seasoned all-rounder in the mega auction, splurging ₹9.75 crore to bring Ashwin back to the CSK den. However, the much-hyped homecoming did not unfold as successfully as Ashwin or CSK would have wanted.
The five-time IPL champions scripted their worst-ever run in the 18th edition. Ashwin's bowling in the powerplay turned out to be a significantly costly risk played by the Super Kings. The senior's form in IPL 2025 compelled CSK to drop him from the combination as Ashwin played nine games in the season. In the nine games, Ashwin scalped seven wickets at an economy of 9.12. CSK, meanwhile, ended the season at the bottom of the points table, the first instance in the 18-year-long history of the T20 league.
Recently, speculations arose that Ravi Ashwin had demanded a release from CSK ahead of IPL 2026. The senior openly spoke about seeking clarity from the franchise, forced to do so after he was dropped from the Playing XI in the last season. Meanwhile, further reports suggested that the spinner could be traded ahead of the next mini auction. However, as it stands now, Ashwin has marked his last in the IPL, clad in the yellows of Chennai.
Ashwin announced his IPL retirement early on Wednesday. Time and again, the spinner has talked about the sport being his first priority always. So, it's unlikely for the all-rounder to curb the cricket action altogether. In his parting message, Ashwin hinted at his next plan of action. The BCCI does not allow any active player to take part in other leagues around the world.However, already out of the India national cricket team, and now retired from the IPL as well, the senior player is likely to find his way into the T20 leagues, most likely the SA20. Dinesh Karthik became the first Indian player to feature in the South African T20 league last season. Ashwin is likely to follow suit now.
