Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has officially announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), bringing an end to an illustrious 16-year career in the tournament. The announcement comes just a year after he stepped away from international cricket during India’s tour of Australia.
Taking to social media, Ashwin wrote,
“Special day and hence a special beginning. 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.”
The message strongly hints at his next move—joining other franchise T20 leagues across the globe.
A Stalwart of the IPL for Over a Decade
Ashwin played for five different franchises during his IPL journey: Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, Rising Pune Supergiant, and Rajasthan Royals. He started and ended his IPL career with CSK, returning to the yellow jersey in the 2025 season after being bought in the latest auction.
However, his final season didn’t quite match expectations. He struggled to find form and couldn’t feature in all matches. Despite the dip in his recent performance, his overall IPL stats are impressive:
- Matches: 217 innings
- Wickets: 187
- Average: 30.2
- Economy Rate: 7.2
In his retirement note, Ashwin expressed heartfelt gratitude:
“Would like to thank all the franchisees for all the wonderful memories and relationships over the years and most importantly the @IPL and the @BCCI for what they have given me until now. Look forward to enjoying and making the most of what’s ahead of me.”
What’s Next for Ashwin?
Ashwin’s retirement from both international and IPL cricket doesn’t mark the end of his playing days. Instead, it signals a shift toward opportunities in T20 leagues across the world. If he does feature in overseas franchise tournaments, Ashwin will become only the second Indian cricketer after Dinesh Karthik to do so. Karthik recently signed with Paarl Royals in South Africa’s SA20 league after retiring from both Indian and IPL cricket.
Known for his cricketing intelligence and skill, Ashwin remains a potent force in the T20 format. Fans will now eagerly await news of which global leagues he chooses to join, as he looks to continue making an impact on the game in a new avatar.
