Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), bringing an end to a storied 15-year career in the tournament. The 38-year-old confirmed his decision in a social media post on Wednesday, stating his intention to now become an "explorer of the game" by playing in various T20 leagues around the world.
In his farewell message, Ashwin reflected on his journey and looked ahead to a new chapter. "They say every ending will have a new start, my time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today, but my time as an explorer of the game around various leagues begins today," he wrote. He also extended his gratitude to the BCCI, the IPL, and all the franchises he represented over the years for the "wonderful memories and relationships."
Ashwin leaves the IPL as one of its most decorated spinners. Since making his debut with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2009, he played 221 matches, taking 187 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 7.20. A handy lower-order batsman, he also contributed 833 runs. He was a vital part of CSK's back-to-back title victories in 2010 and 2011 and went on to represent five franchises in total.
The 2025 season marked a homecoming for Ashwin, who returned to his original franchise, CSK, after a decade. However, it proved to be a challenging final campaign for the veteran. In a disappointing season for the team, which finished at the bottom of the table, Ashwin managed to take only seven wickets in nine matches.
Having retired from international cricket last year, Ashwin's decision to leave the IPL signals a full transition to the next phase of his career. The crafty all-rounder is now set to become a globetrotting T20 specialist, bringing his immense experience and tactical acumen to various franchise leagues around the world, embarking on the new beginning he alluded to in his announcement.