IPL throwback: No slouch with the bat, Ashwin validates promotion up the order

Originally posted on Guerilla Cricket | By Aryan Surana | Last updated Aug 27, 2025 5:18 AM ET

Ravichandran Ashwin has drawn the curtains on his Indian Premier League career. The veteran spinner announced his decision on X, and hinted at playing franchise cricket around the globe.

“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 returned to his native franchise Chennai Super Kings recently as the five-time champions procured his services for INR 9.75 Crore. His season turned out to be underwhelming though, playing just nine matches where he picked seven wickets.

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

Ashwin was central to CSK’s title wins in 2010 and 2011, contributing 13 and 20 wickets respectively. In 2010, Ashwin was adjudged the player of the series in CSK’s Champions League T20 triumph. In next year’s IPL final, he opened the bowling 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.

He was no mug with the bat either, as evinced by the swashbuckling 29-run cameo he produced to bring Rajasthan Royals back on track in an IPL 2024 fixture versus Delhi Capitals.

After a long, fruitful association with his home franchise, Ashwin plied his trade at the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings – whom he led, Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals.

From making his debut in 2009 to the 2015 season, Ashwin represented CSK, picking 90 wickets in all. In 2016, when CSK was serving a ban, he turned out for RPS, under the familiar tutelage of MS Dhoni. He missed the 2017 season due to injury. In 2018, Punjab Kings staved off Rajasthan Royals to buy him for INR 7.60 crore, and handed him the leadership role. Even as he tallied 25 wickets across two seasons, the needle didn’t quite move as Punjab Kings finished well outside of the top four on each occasion.

Before the 2020 season, he was traded to Delhi Capitals, where he spent two years. In the mega auction of 2022, Rajasthan Royals bagged him for INR 5 crore, where he thrived with partner-in-crime Yuzvendra Chahal. RR then released him and CSK pounced on the opportunity by loosening their purse strings.

This article first appeared on Guerilla Cricket and was syndicated with permission.

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