Last Updated:
Is Ravichandran Ashwin on his way out of Chennai Super Kings just one season after making an emotional return?
MS Dhoni (left) and Ravichandran Ashwin during IPL 2025. (BCCI Photo)
Speculations are rife over the future of Ravichandran Ashwin at Chennai Super Kings with multiple reports claiming that the veteran cricket has had conversations with the franchise on his role going forward. As per a report, Ashwin has made up his mind on leaving the five-time champions ahead of the IPL mini auction expected to be held in December.
Should he part ways, the 38-year-old will also likely quit as Director of Operations at the CSK Academy.
The offspinner, who retired from international cricket last year, was bought up CSK for Rs 9.75 crore as he returned to his old stomping ground having represented the five-time champions from 2009 to 2015.
The comeback was emotional but CSK’s and Ashwin’s own performances were not up to the mark. While the seasoned campaigner managed 7 wickets from 9 games, CSK finished last in the standings.
The rumours of Ashwin’s CSK exit are surprising considering how he had reacted after being re-signed by the team at the two-day IPL mega auction last year.
“It feels like it’s 2011 again,” said Ashwin during an event in March this year. “It was nice to go around and get a flavour of what it is like everywhere. You learn a lot, but one thing that really stands out is that CSK has remained a team that’s evolved, yet at the same time, remained an archive.”
“Today, in the world of cricket corporatisation, there’s nobody who runs a business to make a loss – I understand that. But things have evolved, and teams have changed so much. Coming here (to CSK) again, I realise it hasn’t changed one bit since I left in 2015. The fact is, it is organically cricket. The best way to run a cricket team and achieve success is to keep it cricket-oriented,” he added.
Ashwin proceeded to thank CSK legend and former captain MS Dhoni for the gift of getting him back to the team.
I invited MS for my 100th Test to hand over the memento. I wanted to make that my last Test. Unfortunately, he couldn’t come, but I didn’t think you’d hand over the gift of getting me back to CSK. It’s a much better one, so thank you MS,” Ashwin had said.
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital…Read More
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital… Read More
view comments
Read More
