New Delhi: India’s most successful Test spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, has officially announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), marking the end of a remarkable chapter in his cricketing journey. Taking to X on Wednesday, Ashwin wrote, “As an IPL cricketer, my time ends today. But with every ending comes a new beginning. From here on, I will explore opportunities in other leagues around the world.”
Ashwin, 39, finishes his IPL career as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament’s history, with 187 wickets at an economy of 7.2. With the bat, he scored 833 runs, including a half-century. His IPL career began and ended with the Chennai Super Kings, with stints at Rising Pune Supergiants, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, and a captaincy role at Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings).
Globally, Ashwin now has the option to play in leagues such as Australia’s Big Bash, South Africa’s SA20, England’s The Hundred, and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). His departure from IPL follows his earlier exit from international cricket, where he represented India in 287 matches across formats, claiming 765 wickets—including 537 wickets in 106 Tests, making him India’s most successful Test bowler. He also contributed 3,503 Test runs with five centuries.
Ashwin, who was part of CSK’s 2010 and 2011 IPL-winning squads, was bought for ₹9.75 crore in the last mega auction but played just nine games in his final season. While he struggled for impact in his later years, his reputation as a strategic bowler and fierce competitor remains unmatched.
As he closes his IPL career, Ashwin now looks forward to embracing the global T20 circuit, aiming to continue spinning magic on new turfs.
