Ravichandran Ashwin Announces Retirement From IPL Cricket

Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from IPL cricket, effective immediately. The cricketer announced his decision on X (Formerly known as Twitter). Ashwin has desired to play in overseas leagues.

Ashwin Retires From IPL

Ashwin had a grand homecoming this year after the Chennai Super Kings bought him for INR 9.75 Crore. But the off-spinner had a poor outing as he played just 9 games, picking up 7 scalps. There were strong rumors that the off-spinner & Chennai Super Kings are set to part ways ahead of IPL 2026.

The 38-year-old off-spinner, who debuted in the league back in 2009 with CSK, went on to feature in 220 matches across multiple franchises, taking 187 wickets. Ashwin played a crucial role in CSK's title run in 2010 & 2011, picking up 13 & 20 wickets respectively. Ashwin was also adjudged as the man of the series in CSK's victory in the Champions League in 2014.

The Tamil Nadu off-spinner plied trade for four different teams, including the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals. Out of which he captained the Punjab Kings.

The Tamil Nadu off-spinner plied trade for four different teams, including the now-defunct Rising Pune Super Giants, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals. Out of which he captained the Punjab Kings. Injury. In 2018, Punjab Kings fought off Rajasthan Royals to prize him away for INR 7.60 crore, and handed him captaincy. Ashwin picked up a combined tally of 25 wickets across the two seasons; unfortunately, that wasn't enough for the Punjab franchise as they finished well outside the top 4.

Before the 2020 season, he was traded to the Delhi Capitals, where he played for two years. In the mega auction of 2022, Rajasthan Royals bagged him for INR 5 crore, where he formed a lethal spin attack with Yuzvendra Chahal. He picked 12 and 14 wickets in the first two seasons at RR before facing a slight dip in 2024 [9 wickets at an economy rate of 8.49]. RR then released him, and CSK then bought him for a big sum.

He walks away from the IPL as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, having featured in 16 of the 18 seasons.