Chennai Super Kings will be elated to see a homecoming for one of their heroes, as Ravichandran Ashwin goes back to the team in yellow and reunites with MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, and Stephen Fleming for the 2025 season. Nevertheless, it was somewhat surprising to see Ravichandran Ashwin’s stock inflate, and for CSK to remain in the race and purchase him for the price of INR 9.75 crore.
With a dearth of elite spinners in the auction pool, CSK have put together a formidable trio for the gripping Chepauk with R Ashwin, Jadeja, and Noor Ahmad, as they eye a sixth IPL title.
Chennai Super Kings excited to regain Ravichandran Ashwin for the franchise at 9.75 crores
Indian veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was sold to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for Rs 9.75 crore in the IPL 2025 Auction here at the Abadi Al Johar Arena in Jeddah on Sunday. Entering with a base price of Rs 2 crore, the former CSK stalwart seemed destined for a homecoming. CSK wasted no time in bidding, but Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) offered early resistance.
Ravichandran Ashwin, currently in Australia with the Indian side for the Border-Gavaskar series, saw his price quickly escalate as LSG bowed out and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) entered the fray. The familiar CSK vs RCB battle unfolded again, but RCB soon stepped back, making way for Rajasthan Royals, whom he represented last year as well.
The Royals and CSK engaged in an intense tussle, with Ravichandran Ashwin’s price soaring to Rs 9.75 crore. Royals eventually tapped out, leaving CSK to secure Ashwin in an emotional reunion. The veteran spinner’s return to his original IPL team promises a wealth of experience and leadership for CSK.
Ravichandran Ashwin represented the Men in Yellow from 2009 to 2015 and won the IPL twice with the side. With stints at Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals and RR during his 15-year career, the 38-year-old has played 212 games and claimed 180 wickets to his name. With the plethora of spinners under the belt especially for home games at Chennai, CSK looks a formidable team for the IPL season and former cricketer Mohammad Kaif is excited to see the duo of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja united in yellow for IPL 2025
Mohammad Kaif is excited on the pairing of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for CSK after IPL 2025 Auction
Mohammad Kaif has noted that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have brought together the spin-bowling duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for IPL 2025. He opined that the five-time champions might play only two spinners at Chepauk, their home ground, as the conditions haven’t been too spin-friendly lately.
CSK retained Jadeja for ₹18 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. They spent ₹9.75 crore to acquire R Ashwin’s services at the recent auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Kaif expressed his delight about the Chennai Super Kings’ acquisition of R Ashwin. He added that the Tamil Nadu spinner will be eager to prove himself at his home franchise.
“The pitch has become slightly better. You are not getting tracks that turn a lot. We saw Lucknow (Super Giants) chasing 200 there, (Marcus) Stoinis scored a hundred. The dew factor is there. So three spinners might not play. I see three fast bowlers playing there. Nathan Ellis can play there. He is a good bowler, bowls back-of-the-hand deliveries. They also have the option of Sam Curran,” he said.
“Jadeja and Ashwin – we were eagerly waiting to see this combo. Ashwin will bowl with the new ball. The ball will be hard. He bowls well but couldn’t do that well for the Rajasthan Royals. So Ashwin will be hungry to prove himself. He will be seen alongside Jadeja in CSK,” Kaif added.
R Ashwin picked up only nine wickets at an economy rate of 8.49 in 14 innings for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2024. Ravindra Jadeja also wasn’t potent with the ball last season, accounting for eight dismissals at an economy rate of 7.85 in 14 innings.
Reflecting on the Chennai Super Kings’ batting, Mohammad Kaif noted that they have a decent potential top three in Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, and Rachin Ravindra.
“Their batting is fantastic. Nothing is lacking in their batting. (Ruturaj) Gaikwad always scores runs. He scored 500-600 last year as well. (Devon) Conway scores there. Rachin (Ravindra) has to prove himself. He has not yet become a hero in the IPL. He has to work on his batting,” he said in the same discussion.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that CSK has a couple of excellent players of spin in Rahul Tripathi and Shivam Dube.
“(Rahul) Tripathi plays spin well. His strike rate against spin is very good. That is why they didn’t take (Ajinkya) Rahane and ran after Tripathi. He is a good buy. (Shivam) Dube hits sixes off the first ball. His form remains fantastic. He plays well at CSK’s home ground. These five batters are very good options,” Kaif observed.
Kaif expects MS Dhoni to continue to bat down the order, with Jadeja and R Ashwin potentially batting ahead of him. He added that they have a game-changing death bowler in Matheesha Pathirana.