The IPL career of Ravichandran Ashwin has ended. The spin veteran hinted at playing franchise cricket all over the world when he made his announcement on X.
“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,” Ashwin posted on X.
After being purchased by the Chennai Super Kings at INR 9.75 crore, Ashwin enjoyed a lavish welcome home this year. However, he had a lackluster season, appearing in just nine games and taking seven wickets. Cricbuzz had revealed earlier this month that Ashwin and CSK were going to split ways.
After making his league debut with CSK in 2009, the 38-year-old offspinner played in 221 games for several different teams and claimed 187 wickets. After playing in 16 of the 18 seasons, he leaves the IPL as the fifth-highest wicket-taker.
With 13 and 20 wickets taken in 2010 and 2011, respectively, Ashwin played a key role in CSK’s championship victories. When CSK won the Champions League T20 in 2010, Ashwin was also named the series’ best player. When RCB was chasing CSK’s 205/5 in the following year’s IPL final, he famously bowled the opening over and got rid of Chris Gayle for a duck. In 2014, he and CSK took home a second Champions League T20 victory.
Following a lengthy period of success with his home team, Ashwin continued his career with the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, and Punjab Kings, which he led.
Ashwin played for CSK from 2009 till 2015, during which time he took 90 wickets overall. After CSK was banned in 2016, he played for RPS, which was also led by MS Dhoni. After that, he was injured and missed the 2017 season. He was given leadership after the Punjab Kings beat off the Rajasthan Royals to acquire him for INR 7.60 crore in 2018. Punjab’s fortunes didn’t improve despite him taking 25 wickets in those two seasons; they both finished way outside the top four.
He spent two years playing with the Delhi Capitals after being traded there prior to the 2020 season. He was purchased by the Rajasthan Royals for INR 5 crore at the 2022 mega auction, when he and Yuzvendra Chahal established a deadly spin assault. Before experiencing a minor decline in 2024 [9 wickets at an economy rate of 8.49], he took 12 and 14 wickets in his first two seasons at RR. After RR let him go, CSK snatched him up for a hefty sum.
