Ravichandran Ashwin retires from IPL

Ravichandran Ashwin has called time on his IPL career. The spin veteran announced his decision on X, and hinted at playing franchise cricket around the world.

"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.

Ashwin had a grand homecoming this year after Chennai Super Kings bought him for INR 9.75 Crore. But he endured an underwhelming season, playing just nine matches where he picked seven wickets. Earlier this month, Cricbuzz had reported that Ashwin and CSK were set to part ways.

The 38-year-old offspinner, who debuted in the league back in 2009 with CSK, went on to feature in 221 matches across multiple franchises, taking 187 wickets. He walks away as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the IPL, having featured in 16 of the 18 seasons.

Ashwin was a vital part of CSK's title wins in 2010 and 2011, picking 13 and 20 wickets respectively. In 2010, Ashwin was also the player of the series in CSK's Champions League T20 victory. In the next year's IPL final, he famously bowled the first over and dismissed Chris Gayle for a duck in RCB's chase of CSK's 205/5. He won a second Champions League T20 trophy with CSK in 2014.

After a long successful stint at his home franchise, Ashwin went on to ply his trade at the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings - who he captained, Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals.

From making his debut in 2009 to the 2015 season, Ashwin played for CSK, picking 90 wickets in all. In 2016, when CSK served a ban, he turned out for RPS, also under MS Dhoni. He then missed the 2017 season through injury. In 2018, Punjab Kings fought off Rajasthan Royals to prise him away for INR 7.60 crore, and handed him captaincy. Even as he picked 25 wickets across those two seasons, Punjab's fortunes didn't change as they finished well outside of the top four on both occasions.

Before the 2020 season, he was traded to 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 swooped him in for big money.