Ravichandran Ashwin Says Goodbye to the IPL But Eyes Fresh Challenges

Ravichandran Ashwin has finally closed the curtains on his prestigious and long IPL career. The ace spinner posted his decision on social media while, in a way, giving a clear indication that his cricketing career is not going to end here. He declared that although his stint in the IPL is over he is looking forward to pursuing opportunities in other franchise leagues internationally. His statement was one of both thankfulness and enthusiasm as he expressed that endings are beginnings and that this was precisely the way of thinking that has characterized Ashwin throughout his career.

The 38 year old off spinner played his IPL debut long ago in 2009 for his hometown team Chennai Super Kings. From there his journey developed into one of the most consistent and revered careers in the history of the league. Over the course of 16 seasons Ashwin played in 221 matches and collected 187 wickets which makes him the fifth highest wicket taker in the history of the IPL. These statistics itself reveal how significant a personality he has been but what adds more glamour to his tale is the number of franchises and the various stages of his career where he revitalized himself in order to remain contemporary in a rapidly evolving format.

Ashwin was an integral cog of Chennai Super Kings' initial success in the tournament. He was instrumental in their championship victories in 2010 and 2011 and was renowned for performing well in big games. In 2010 he took 13 wickets throughout the season and was also best on show in the Champions League T20 where he was awarded player of the series. The next year he picked up 20 wickets in the IPL and in the last match made headlines by bowling the first over and sending Chris Gayle for a duck in Royal Challengers Bangalore's massive chase. That single ball put the tone for the evening and CSK successfully defended their score. Ashwin then went on to win his second Champions League T20 title with CSK in 2014 further cementing his image as a big match player.

From his debut until 2015 Ashwin was a rock of support for Chennai Super Kings taking 90 wickets in total over that time. But his career took a dramatic turn in 2016 when CSK were suspended and he joined the Rising Pune Supergiant franchise. He played under the captaincy of MS Dhoni once again but this too was short lived as he sat out the 2017 season owing to injury. In 2018 a new beginning started when Punjab Kings acquired him for 7.6 crore following a bidding battle with Rajasthan Royals. Ashwin was given the captaincy as well which was a rare occurrence for a bowler in IPL history. In two seasons he took 25 wickets but the team still performed poorly and failed to reach the playoffs in both years.

Before the 2020 season Delhi Capitals traded Ashwin into their lineup where he had two good seasons. His role by then had changed from being the primary attacking option to being a clever operator who could deliver control in the middle overs. In the 2022 mega auction Rajasthan Royals signed him for 5 crore and this transaction provided him an opportunity to create a solid spin combination with Yuzvendra Chahal. Ashwin provided good performance consistently with 12 and 14 wickets in his initial two years at the Royals. But in 2024 his output came down as he could only manage 9 wickets with an economy of almost 8.5. Rajasthan Royals later released him which paved the way for a dramatic return to his former team CSK.

The comeback was one of the most buzzed about tales of the 2024 season when Chennai Super Kings invested 9.75 crore to welcome back their veteran spinner. Fans were looking forward to having him play for them in yellow again but sadly the season wasn't as expected for either Ashwin or CSK. He played just nine games and took seven wickets which were far below his normal standards. Soon there were reports that both CSK and Ashwin had mutually agreed to go their separate ways and when the season concluded his retirement revelation came soon after.

Though the end may not have been as heroic as his prime years the legacy of Ashwin in the IPL is huge. He has played for a number of franchises in almost two decades but his affiliation with CSK and the memories that he made there will always be the most powerful. From downgrading some of the game's biggest names to captaining a franchise and coping with different roles he has depicted what it takes to be an absolute professional.

Ashwin has always been celebrated for his cricketing intelligence and his ability to keep going from strength to strength. Even in his last message he highlighted that when one door closes another one opens and that is the reason why fans are convinced that his journey as a franchise cricketer is no means over. With so many leagues around the globe providing avenues for seasoned players it is highly likely that he will go on to spin magic on other platforms.

His career in IPL can be recalled as a tale of consistency flexibility and force. He began as a teenage spinner from Chennai dreaming big and finished as one of the greatest bowlers in IPL history. Few players have been able to remain relevant at so many various stages of IPL history but Ashwin did so with talent brains and diligence. His sendoff could be the end of an era in the IPL but it is also the start of a new thrilling chapter where he will continue to discover the game of his passion in various corners of the globe.