When Ravichandran Ashwin rejoined Chennai Super Kings for the 18th season, the supporters and cricket experts called it a masterstroke. However, the returns have been ordinary despite the team spending INR 9.75 crore. In 7 matches, Ravichandran Ashwin has taken just 5 wickets at an average of 44.60 and at an economy of 9.29. His spin partner Ravindra Jadeja has dismissed just 5 batters in eight games at an average of 33.20 and an economy rate of 8.66.
MI chased down the target with more than four overs to go to seal a third successive win in IPL 2025 after a rocky start to the campaign and Ravichandran Ashwin’s subpar defensive bowling became the talk of the town after a 9-wicket thumping by MI.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s return in a yellow Jersey not so great
R Ashwin expressed heartfelt excitement upon his return to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) during the IPL 2025 Auction on November 24. The veteran spinner, who played for CSK from 2009 to 2015, had been away from the franchise since the 2018 auction. Chennai decided to go all out for the veteran spinner during day 1 of the auction and beat competition from the likes of RCB, LSG, and RR. The 5-time champions shelled out Rs. 9.75 crore for the services of R Ashwin, who will now be reunited with MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja.
India’s experienced spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin was all set to don the yellow again as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) splurged Rs 9.75 crore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. As many as four franchises were interested in his services, but in the end, it was a bidding war between the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and CSK. R Ashwin thanked the five-time IPL champions for fighting for him.
The veteran spinner had endured a barren run in IPL 2024, where he failed to take a wicket in six consecutive matches. Despite finishing the season on a high with some wickets under his belt, the same wicket-taking struggle has crept into the ongoing season as well.
His bowling average read a shocking 51.89 in IPL 2024, the figure has not improved much, as it currently stands at 44.60 after seven appearances in IPL 2025.
In the Chennai Super Kings game against Mumbai Indians that they lost in a one-sided encounter, Ravichandran Ashwin bowled two tight overs in the powerplay, the 4th and sixth, giving 9 runs. He then had two more – the 8th and 12th- giving 23 runs. Former India opener and selector K Srikanth isn’t impressed, though, with Ravichandran Ashwin’s bowling in the game where CSK was trying to defend 176.
Ravichandran Ashwin has turned all defensive- Kris Srikkant
Former India cricketer Kris Srikanth lambasted veteran bowler R Ashwin’s defensive bowling spell in the Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) humbling loss to the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2025 Indian Premier League. The off-spinner conceded only 25 runs off his four overs, but did not have any wickets to show for at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, April 20.
Ravichandran Ashwin was recently dropped by CSK in the away win against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The senior bowler was not part of the initial playing XI in the match against the arch-rivals too, but he came in as an impact sub at the start of the second innings.
Ravichandran Ashwin was brought into the attack inside the powerplay itself to contain the left-handed Ryan Rickelton at the top. He conceded only one boundary off his two overs during the fielding restrictions, but the other bowlers leaked runs to give MI an early advantage in pursuit of the 177-run target.
The off-spinner bowled the rest of his overs in the middle phase, as the pair of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav dealt with him relatively easily, before taking on the other bowlers.
Despite being the most economical bowler on show by a fair margin, Srikanth slammed Ashwin’s impact less display.
“What is Ashwin doing? He has turned all defensive. He is not looking to take wickets. He is like let me get through these four overs. He never went for wicket-taking. Just bowling safe,” Srikanth said on his YouTube channel ‘Cheeky Cheeka’ (via The Indian Express).
“What was the idea of taking Ashwin today? To get two wickets and win the match. But what did he do? He bowled safely in the powerplay. It didn’t matter to CSK at all. MI also were sensible, taking singles off him. You have to understand the match situation, IPL situation – and bowl accordingly,” Srikanth added.
MI chased down the target with more than four overs to go in order to seal a third successive win in IPL 2025 after a rocky start to the campaign. CSK’s next match is against SRH at Chepauk on 25th April as CSK fans would be hoping that the team peaks as couple of more defeats can end their hopes of playoffs.
CSK has won two out of eight matches and is 10th in the points table. Their regular captain Ruturaj Gaikwad suffered a season-ending elbow injury, and the team management had to request MS Dhoni to lead the side in nine matches of the 18th season. Even the legendary wicketkeeper hasn’t been impressive as a skipper. Chennai has won just 1 out of the three contests he has led so far. They will have to win the next six games to stand a chance of making it to the playoffs which looks unlikely to happen.