Indian Spinner R Ashwin announced his retirement from IPL on Wednesday, August 27. He is announced on the social media account.
The legendary spinner played 212 matches in competition and picked up 187 wickets.
Ashwin’s IPL career spanned 16 seasons, starting with his debut for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2009. His final season also saw him return to CSK, where he was a part of their title-winning campaigns in 2010 and 2011. Over his career, he also represented Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals.
In 221 IPL matches, Ashwin took 187 wickets at an average of 30.22 and an economy rate of 7.20, with best figures of 4/34. He is the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the history of the league. With the bat, he scored 833 runs with a highest score of 50
In a social media post, Ashwin stated that his time as an IPL cricketer was over, but that his “time as an explorer of the game around various leagues begins today.” This suggests he intends to play in other T20 leagues around the world.
Ravichandran Ashwin why announced his retirement
Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a new beginning in his career, stating that his “time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today, but my time as an explorer of the game around various leagues begins today.”
This decision comes months after his retirement from international cricket in December 2024. As an Indian cricketer under contract with the BCCI, he was not permitted to play in other T20 leagues. Now, with his retirement from both international and IPL cricket, he is free to pursue opportunities in leagues around the world, such as the Big Bash League, The Hundred, or the SA20.
His final season in the IPL was with the Chennai Super Kings, a return to the team where he started his career. However, it was a difficult season for both him and the team. The CSK finished at the bottom of the table, and Ashwin had an underwhelming performance, playing in only nine matches and taking seven wickets. He had previously spoken on his YouTube channel about seeking clarity from the franchise regarding his role, and his retirement announcement comes amidst rumors of a potential trade.