Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from IPL on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday morning. The 39-year-old off-spinner enjoyed a 16-year-long career in the IPL, featuring last for the Chennai Super Kings. He had already announced his retirement from international cricket midway through India’s tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in December 2024.
What’s Next in Store for Ravichandran Ashwin?
Ashwin has hinted at the idea of playing in other franchise cricket leagues around the world. In his statement on X, he said, “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.”
The BCCI currently does not allow any male Indian cricketer to feature in overseas franchise leagues until they retire from all forms of cricket. Similar to his state mate, Dinesh Karthik, who retired from the IPL in June 2024, Ashwin can also feature in overseas franchise leagues. Ashwin will now have the option to play in The Hundred in England, BBL in Australia, SA20 in South Africa, The ILT20 in the UAE, and the CPL in the West Indies.
How did Ashwin Perform in IPL 2025?
Ashwin was acquired by CSK at the mega auction last year for INR 9.75 crore, enjoyed an underwhelming homecoming after a decade away. His opportunities, however, were limited, as he played only nine of CSK’s 14 matches. He also picked up only 7 wickets and endured his costliest year yet with an economy of 9.12.
CSK’s woeful season saw the franchise finish at the bottom of the table with only 8 points. Ashwin’s form certainly coupled with CSK’s losing streak last season. There were also reports earlier that Ashwin and CSK were all set to part ways for the upcoming IPL season.
Also read: PKL 2025: Season 12 New Rules Explained – Golden Raid, Play Ins, and Points System
Ashwin’s Legacy in the IPL
Despite Ashwin’s less-than-ideal conclusion to his time in the IPL, his ability to survive as long as he did is a testament to his quality and mental fortitude. He has won two IPL titles with CSK in 2010 and 2011 and captained Punjab Kings for two seasons.
He also represented Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals. He bows out of the competition as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the IPL with 187 strikes at an economy rate of 7.2.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 221 |
| Wickets Taken | 187 |
| Economy | 7 |
| Best Bowling in a Match | 4/34 |
| Runs Scored | 833 |
| Batting Average | 13 |
Written by: Thillai Ritvik
