Ravichandran Ashwin’s much-anticipated return to Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2025 has not gone as planned. Bought for ₹9.75 crore in the mega auction after being released by Rajasthan Royals, the 38 years old spinner was expected to bring experience and impact to the side. However, he managed only 33 runs and seven wickets across nine matches, leading to his exclusion from the playing XI during the season.
His underwhelming performance drew criticism from both fans and cricket experts. Some Reports suggested that Ashwin had already requested CSK to release him ahead of the 2026 auction. On August 11, a sports portal reported a further development that Ashwin has now asked the franchise for a clear picture of how they plan to use him next year. A source revealed that he has indicated a willingness to move on if he does not fit into the team’s strategy.
Ashwin’s IPL career spans 221 matches across five franchises — CSK, Rising Pune Super Giants, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals. With 833 runs in 98 innings and 187 wickets in 217 innings, he remains one of the most accomplished players in the league’s history. His association with CSK has been particularly memorable, claiming 97 wickets in 106 matches for the team and lifting the trophy with them twice — in 2010 and 2021. He has also been part of five runner-up finishes — 2012, 2013, 2015, 2020 and 2022.
Beyond CSK, his IPL journey has included 10 wickets in 14 matches for Rising Pune Super Giants in 2016, 25 wickets in 28 matches for Punjab Kings during 2018-2019, 20 wickets from 28 matches with Delhi Capitals in 2020-2021 and 35 wickets in 45 games for Rajasthan Royals between 2022 and 2024.
For now, Ashwin’s place in CSK’s future plans remains uncertain, with both the player and the franchise needing to decide whether their paths will continue together or diverge ahead of the next season.
