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Ashwin played 106 matches in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings and dismissed 97 batters in addition to scoring 223 runs with the bat and winning two titles.
AB de Villiers praises R Ashwin. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics, PTI)
After playing 221 matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for five teams – Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Super Giants, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals – from 2009 to 2025, former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took to X on August 27 to announce his retirement from the world’s richest franchise cricket league. The 38-year-old cricketer from Chennai, in his retirement post, mentioned that he would like to play in various T20 leagues around the world after his retirement from Indian cricket.
It was reported last week that he is keen to become the first Indian cricketer to feature in The Hundred, and on Sunday (August 31), it was also reported that he has registered himself for the International League T20 (ILT20)—the premier T20 competition in the United Arab Emirates, where three out of six teams are owned by IPL franchises.
Ashwin’s retirement from IPL did surprise a few, but it was on expected lines as well. Ashwin was signed for Rs 9.75 crore by CSK in the IPL 2025 mega auction, but he failed to live up to the billing and was even dropped from the playing XI mid-season by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. It was expected that CSK would release Ashwin ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, but before CSK could make any decision, Ashwin stepped away by himself.
Ashwin played a total of 106 IPL matches for CSK in two different stints – first from 2009 to 2016 and second in 2025. He won two IPL titles with CSK and finished as the third-highest wicket-taker for the franchise.
Ashwin, who is one of the greatest Indian cricketers of all time, is also an IPL legend, and former South African batter and captain AB de Villiers praised his CSK legacy by saying that he will always remember him as the yellow jersey guy.
He also praised Ashwin’s wisdom and said that he always has a lot of respect for guys who study the game.
“Stellar career. It has got to be said, what a wonderful player. What a scientist of the game. A doctor, professor of the game. He always took it to the limits of the rule book. Generally got it right, even though he was frowned upon a little bit. I have a lot of respect for guys who study the game, and he was one of such cricketers,” De Villiers said during a 360 Live session on X.
“Incredible skill. A huge player and icon in India. He won so many games for Team India and CSK over the years. He played for other teams but never felt settled at those teams. In my opinion, he should have always stayed at CSK. Obviously, it was not up to him, as a lot of things go into that retention, all kinds of team selection. But I will always remember him as a yellow jersey guy,” he added.
De Villiers, who scored more than 5000 runs in the IPL during his 184-match career from 2008 to 2021, also praised Ashwin’s batting.
“Very underrated with the bat in hand. It is not spoken enough about how he showed a lot of character with the bat in hand. Generally, with Team India in trouble, he would have sort of come through,” said de Villiers.
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