India’s legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL). He made the announcement on Wednesday through a post on X (Twitter). Ashwin was a part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad in the last season, but his performance was not up to expectations. CSK had bought him for ₹9.75 crore during the auction.
Rift Between CSK and Ashwin
For the past few months, there were speculations that CSK might release Ashwin before the next season. Reports suggest that Ashwin even sought clarification from the CSK management regarding his future with the team. This indicated that things were not going smoothly between Ashwin and the franchise. Eventually, Ashwin’s retirement decision surprised everyone.
Interestingly, Ashwin began his IPL career with CSK and has now ended it with the same franchise. The Chennai-born spinner played for CSK from 2009 to 2015 before moving to other teams.
Poor Performance in IPL 2025
In the IPL 2025 season, Ashwin played nine matches and managed to take only seven wickets. CSK also had a disappointing season, finishing 10th on the points table with four wins and ten losses.
Additionally, Ashwin was in the news earlier this season due to his controversial remarks about Dewald Brevis, which created quite a stir. Later, he had to clarify his statement publicly.
Retirement Shocks Fans Again
This is not the first time Ashwin has surprised fans with his decisions. In December last year, he had suddenly announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Test of the Australia tour.
However, Ashwin has clarified in his latest post that he will continue playing in other leagues like the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) and various overseas tournaments.
Similar: Test Cricket Legend Cheteshwar Pujara Announces Retirement
Ashwin’s Message to Fans
In his retirement note, Ashwin wrote:
“Today marks a special day and a new beginning. They say every ending brings a new start. My journey as an IPL cricketer ends today, but my experiences in different leagues around the world begin from here. I want to thank all the franchises for the beautiful memories and bonds I’ve built over the years. Most importantly, I am grateful to the IPL and the BCCI for everything they have given me. I am excited to embrace the upcoming challenges and make the most of the opportunities ahead.”
Ashwin’s IPL Career
Over the years, Ashwin played for multiple IPL franchises, including:
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Rising Pune Supergiant
- Punjab Kings (also captained the team)
- Delhi Capitals
- Rajasthan Royals
In his IPL career, Ashwin played 220 matches, taking 187 wickets at an economy rate of 7.2. His best bowling figure was four wickets for 34 runs. With the bat, he scored 833 runs at a strike rate of 118.16, including a half-century.
Ashwin became a household name through his performances in the IPL, which eventually earned him a spot in the Indian national team. However, the star off-spinner will no longer feature in the IPL.