Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who was bought by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the mega auction before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, has decided to part ways with the five-time champions. The 38-year-old Ravichandran Ashwin endured a torrid time in this year’s edition of the tournament, taking just seven wickets in nine matches. The off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was picked up by CSK for INR 9.75 crore in the mega auction; however, he failed to live up to the billing.
According to a report in Cricbuzz, Ravichandran Ashwin has decided to part ways with CSK and has already informed the franchise about his decision. However, the reason behind R Ashwin’s decision is not known at the moment.
The veteran spinner is also likely to give up his role as the Director of Operations at the CSK Academy. He has held this position for the past year. If R Ashwin decides to join another franchise, continuing in the CSK role could present a conflict of interest situation. According to Cricbuzz, R Ashwin is keen to avoid such a situation and hence, he has decided to leave the role.
It remains to be seen whether R Ashwin is traded to another franchise or whether he enters the pool for the mini auction, set to take place later this year.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s off season in IPL 2025 a reason for his rumoured exit from CSK
In the 2025 season, Ravichandran Ashwin failed to set the stage on fire, and his underwhelming returns with the ball were one of the major reasons the management benched him for a few games. The seasoned off-spinner was utilised in the powerplay, but R Ashwin leaked runs, letting the opposition off the hook. After the season came to an end, even R Ashwin admitted to not having an ideal season, stating the need for getting better inside the powerplay.
Speaking about international cricket, R Ashwin bid adieu to the game following the Gabba Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He called time on his career after the third Test against Australia as he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker for India across all three formats of the game.
On Thursday, top CSK officials, along with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and MS Dhoni, held a meeting. All the concerned individuals have been meeting in Chennai over the past few days to discuss the upcoming IPL season and the strategy going ahead.
R Ashwin made his long-awaited return to CSK in the IPL 2025 season after spending nine editions with different teams. Between 2016 and 2024, R Ashwin represented teams like Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Rajasthan Royals. R Ashwin started off his IPL journey with CSK, spending his first six seasons with the MS Dhoni-led side.
Earlier, it was reported that Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson had also requested the franchise to release him ahead of the 2026 edition of the tournament. Speaking of CSK, for the first time in their history, the franchise finished at the bottom of the points table in the IPL 2025 season. Ruturaj Gaikwad got ruled out midway through the tournament and hence MS Dhoni was named as the stand-in captain.
Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth backed Chennai Super Kings to let go of R Ashwin, who could leave the five-time champions only a season after his glittery reunion with the franchise following a Rs 9.75 crore auction deal.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s performance in IPL 2025 wasn’t that great- Kris Srikkanth
Former India captain K Srikkanth believes that Ravichandran Ashwin’s rumoured departure from Chennai Super Kings could be a positive step for the franchise as they look to rebuild into a title-challenging team in the Indian Premier League.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth said he would support the move if CSK decide to release the veteran all-rounder and focus on building around the younger players who impressed towards the end of the previous season, even after the team had fallen out of playoff contention.
“Actually I am with CSK and if they do it, it will be a super move. I think they can muster up around 42 crores and with the youngsters who performed well at the end of the season, they can form a good side,” Srikkanth commented.
“If you look at his (Ashwin’s) IPL performance last season, it wasn’t that great. (On him being a TN great and still being released). CSK haven’t picked him in recent years at the auction. He’s played for Punjab, Delhi and Rajasthan, and then he came back this season. We thought it was a good pick, a homecoming of sorts. But you got to understand, this is franchise cricket.”
“At the end of the day, this is not Tamil Nadu cricket; it is franchise cricket. When he left the franchise before, no one called it bittersweet. Do we keep a player just because he is a legend of the game? Other teams are also releasing players. Even someone like Rahul Dravid was let go by RCB. Only the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli, who are superstars, don’t face such issues.”
R Ashwin’s return to CSK ahead of the 2025 season was seen as a homecoming, but it turned out to be a disappointing campaign both for the player and the team. The off-spinner managed just seven wickets at an economy rate of 9.13 and contributed only 33 runs with the bat. CSK, meanwhile, finished at the bottom of the table. Srikkanth acknowledged Ashwin’s achievements but stressed that franchise cricket is results-driven.
“They thought it was a good pick, but unfortunately, you’ve got to understand that it’s franchise cricket at the end of the day and not Tamil Nadu cricket. Yes, all of us admire him for his records, he has done brilliantly for IPL, CSK, India, and Tamil Nadu. But that apart, you have to win championships. The last two years CSK have not qualified for the playoffs,” he said.
He believes CSK’s batting core looks promising with players like Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel, but strengthening the bowling attack will be crucial if they are to mount a serious title challenge.
“There appears to be a list of players that CSK are looking to release, including Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, among others. So they can do a total overhaul. If I was in the franchise, I would be open to it. If CSK is going to do it, they should do this. Superb move.”
“I read in the papers that they could muster around Rs 42 crore from the release and form a good side. Not to forget that last season they did well with youngsters such as Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel, towards the end of the tournament. There are a lot of youngsters, unknown youngsters are available across India,” Srikkanth said.
According to Srikkanth, only players of the stature of Virat Kohli or Sachin Tendulkar can be assured of a long-term place in a franchise side.
“Even Washington Sundar was preferred over R Ashwin in Australia. The point is that he’s had a brilliant career but this is franchise cricket and this is bound to happen. It’s corporate cricket — what can you do? It’s the same corporate cricket that gives you a lot of money,” he added.
Srikkanth also insisted that the franchise can’t just keep the all-rounder in the setup because he’s a ‘legend of the game’. The former Indian opener reckoned that the franchise are trying to set up a team that could win championships in the future, and Ashwin’s move will kick start that in IPL 2026.
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