Ravichandran Ashwin, a long serving all-rounder was the first to shock everybody when he announced that he is retiring the IPL even before the 2026 season begins. In the middle of the 202425 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he declared that he was retiring in international cricket.
The first franchise he started his IPL career with was his home team the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the year 2009. He played a total of seven seasons with the squad until 2015 before joining the squad of other clubs such as the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings (PBKS), Delhi capitals (DC) and Rajasthan Royals (RR).
The off-spinner’s return to CSK for the 2025 season after being signed for ₹9.75 crore in the super auction was a full circle. He took seven wickets in nine appearances during his unsuccessful second tenure.
However, Ravichandran Ashwin had a successful IPL career overall. He participated in 221 matches, took 187 wickets, and helped CSK win the trophy twice in 2010 and 2011.
Nevertheless, these are the top four professional responses to his decision to leave the lucrative league.
1. Priyank Panchal
Former Gujarat batsman Priyank Panchal complimented Ravichandran Ashwin as being the most experimental bowler in the IPL. The veteran dispelled the myth that an off-spinner is unfit for the T20 format, he continued.
“Our memory often cheats us into undermining someone’s capabilities. @ashwinravi99 bhai was the foremost experimenter in IPL bowling, redefining the rules when people said the format wasn’t suited for off spin bowling. A legend, and a ruthless winner, you’ll be missed #Ashwin,” he wrote on X.
He was one of the most successful off-spinners in IPL history before he retired. After Yuzvendra Chahal, Sunil Narine, and Piyush Chawla, he is listed fourth among spinners with the most wickets and fifth on the league’s list of top wicket-takers.
2. Monty Panesar
Former England left-arm spinner Monty Panesar praised Ashwin after he withdrew from the IPL. According to Panesar, the CSK star became an all-format bowler after first making a name for himself as a T20 bowler in the lucrative league.
“He first made his mark in the IPL as a T20 bowler, excelling especially in the powerplay, and gradually developed into a fantastic all-round cricketer and bowler across all formats,” he was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.
Moreover, Panesar called him a scientist of spin and he has always outwitted the hitters and brought new variations to bowling, according to Panesar. In the case of India, Ashwin became the winner of 537 wickets in the Test matches, 156 wickets in the ODIs and 72 wickets in T20Is. It was over the years that he grew to become an important player in the team in various formats.
3. Aakash Chopra
Former India batter Aakash Chopra had a unique reaction to Ashwin’s IPL retirement. Going forward, the off-spinner has said he would consider other competitions. Chopra responded by thinking that it might result in other Indian players playing in different foreign leagues.
“Ravichandran Ashwin has said goodbye to the IPL as well, and he is now saying that he will go play the different leagues across the globe. He is charting a new course. His IPL career has been terrific, but all good stories come to an end, and his story ends here. Does it mean other Indian players can also go to play in other leagues? Wherever he puts his name, he is going to get picked, and he will do very well,” he said on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’. (0:01)
Notably, Indian players are only eligible to participate in foreign competitions once they have retired from domestic, international, and IPL cricket. A small number of Indian cricket players have previously participated in international T20 leagues.
It is unclear whether the former all-rounder will compete in other leagues as a player or in another capacity.
4. Krishnamachari Srikkanth
Former Indian opener and 1983 World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth has questioned the CSK players’ IPL retirement. Before switching to other leagues, he believed the all-round player might have played for at least two more years.
“I am not sure why Ashwin retired. If I were in his place, I would have continued playing IPL for atleast another two years. Ofcourse for Ashwin, money, fame or name is not an issue. He has all of those in abundance. But, he could have played in the IPL for another two years and then gone on to play in the other leagues.”
Krishnamachari Srikkanth
Srikkanth praised the off-spinner as one of the top IPL players and said that the competition helped him establish himself. According to the former batter, Ashwin’s rise to fame was facilitated by the IPL and CSK.
“Ashwin has been one of the best IPL cricketers India has produced. His name to fame itself was through the IPL. Though he had done well in the domestic competitions and for India in Tests, but he was first recognised through the IPL and CSK, especially when he kept dismissng Chris Gayle for fun.”
Krishnamachari Srikkanth
The experienced all-rounder took 13 wickets as CSK won their maiden title in 2010. He took 20 scalps during their 2011 title defense.
