Veteran offspinner R Ashwin has announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL). He shared the news on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday morning, stating that he plans to explore “the game around various leagues” in the future.
Ashwin ends his IPL career as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament’s history, with 187 wickets at an economy rate of 7.2. He began his IPL journey with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2009 and also represented Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals, besides captaining Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings).
The 38-year-old, who retired from international cricket in December 2024 during India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of Australia, enjoyed two title wins with CSK in 2010 and 2011. His return to CSK in IPL 2025 after eight years, however, did not go as planned. Bought for INR 9.75 crore at the mega auction, Ashwin played only nine of 14 matches, his lowest in a season since 2009. He also recorded his most expensive season with an economy rate of 9.12, the first time it crossed 8.49.
Ashwin’s decision to quit the IPL opens the door for him to feature in overseas leagues such as the Big Bash League (BBL), SA20, ILT20, The Hundred, and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Like Dinesh Karthik, who made a similar move after retiring from the IPL in 2024, Ashwin will have to step away from the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) to be eligible for foreign T20 tournaments.
One of the most innovative players of his generation, Ashwin constantly reinvented himself to stay relevant in T20 cricket. He remains the only traditional fingerspinner among the top eight wicket-takers in IPL history, a remarkable feat in an era dominated by wristspinners. To adapt to the evolving format, he improved his power-hitting and even opened the batting in TNPL games.
Ashwin was also involved in two unique moments in IPL history: he became the first player to be retired out and the first to run out a non-striker without delivering the ball.
With IPL behind him, Ashwin now looks set to embrace a new phase in his cricketing career across global leagues, continuing his passion for the game.