On August 27, 2025, Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League. In his message, he called it an ending that opens a new beginning, adding that he will explore playing in overseas leagues. His wife, Prithi Narayanan, marked the moment with a heartfelt note celebrating the next chapter.
Ashwin, 38, bows out after 16 IPL seasons played (he missed 2017 through injury), finishing as No. 5 on the all-time IPL wicket charts.
IPL career snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| IPL span | 2009 – 2025 |
| Matches | 221 |
| Wickets | 187 |
| Bowling average | 30.23 |
| Economy rate | 7.20 |
| Best bowling | 4/34 |
| 4-wicket hauls / 5-fors | 1 / 0 |
| Runs | 833 |
| Highest score | 50 |
| Batting strike rate | 118.16 |
| Catches | 52 |
| Titles | IPL 2010, IPL 2011 (with CSK) |
Role: Right-arm off-spinner; lower-order right-hand batter.
Signature skills: classical off-breaks, carrom ball, tactical acumen.
Teams & timeline
| Years | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009–2015 | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Breakthrough years; titles in 2010 & 2011 |
| 2016 | Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) | CSK served a suspension; Ashwin moved to RPS |
| 2017 | — | Did not play (injury) |
| 2018–2019 | Kings XI Punjab / Punjab Kings (KXIP/PBKS) | Captain; sparked a major fair-play debate with the Buttler run-out in 2019 |
| 2020–2021 | Delhi Capitals (DC) | Two seasons, playoff pushes |
| 2022–2024 | Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Used as pinch-hitter; first tactical retire-out in IPL history |
| 2025 | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Homecoming at ₹9.75 crore; final IPL season |
2025: the final chapter
- Bought by CSK for ₹9.75 crore at the mega auction.
- Matches: 9 | Wickets: 7 | Best: 2/41 | Economy: 9.13
- Runs: 33 (SR ~110).
- CSK endured a tough campaign and finished at the bottom of the table, but Ashwin’s leadership and experience remained a touchstone in a young attack.
Read more: – Why CSK was banned for 2 Years?
Season-by-season (recent years)
| Season | Team | Mat | Wkts | Best | Econ | Runs | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | CSK | 9 | 7 | 2/41 | 9.13 | 33 | 13 |
| 2024 | RR | 15 | 9 | 3/24 | 8.49 | 86 | 29 |
| 2023 | RR | 13 | 14 | 2/23 | 7.51 | 67 | 30 |
| 2022 | RR | 17 | 12 | 3/17 | 7.51 | 191 | 50 |
| 2021 | DC | 13 | 7 | 2/27 | 7.41 | 44 | 20* |
Peak seasons earlier:
- 2011 (CSK): 20 wickets — his highest tally in a season; title win.
- 2014 (CSK): Key middle-overs bowler; consistent economy.
IPL records & distinctions
- 5th-highest wicket-taker in IPL history (187).
- Economy 7.20 across 221 matches — elite control over long spells.
- Best figures 4/34, one four-for, no five-fors (reflecting his role as a powerplay/middle-overs strangler).
- 833 runs, 1 fifty (50 in 2022); occasionally promoted as a pinch-hitter.
- Notable tactical milestone: first tactical retire-out in the IPL (with RR).
- Champions League T20: Player of the Series (2010); another CLT20 title in 2014.
Auction prices & IPL earnings (highlights)
| Year | Team | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | CSK | ₹9.75 Cr |
| 2024 | RR | ₹5.00 Cr |
| 2023 | RR | ₹5.00 Cr |
| 2022 | RR | ₹5.00 Cr |
| 2021 | DC | ₹7.60 Cr |
| 2020 | DC | ₹7.60 Cr |
| 2019 | KXIP | ₹7.60 Cr |
| 2018 | KXIP | ₹7.60 Cr |
Career IPL contract total (approx.): ₹97.24 crore.
Signature moments
- 2010 CLT20 (South Africa): Player of the Series in CSK’s title run.
- 2011 IPL Final (CSK vs RCB): Took the new ball and dismissed Chris Gayle in the first over, setting up CSK’s back-to-back title triumph.
- 2018–19 PBKS captaincy: Fronted a young squad; the 2019 run-out of Jos Buttler ignited one of IPL’s biggest fair-play debates and reshaped conversations around the Laws of the game.
- RR stint (2022–24): Reinvented as a utility all-rounder and chessboard thinker; used in pinch-hit roles and pioneered retire-out tactics.
Beyond the IPL
- International retirement: 2024, as India’s second-highest Test wicket-taker.
- Next steps: Having signed off from the IPL, he has set his sights on overseas T20 leagues.
- Personal: Married to Prithi Narayanan; the couple’s public note on retirement underlined the support system behind the cricketer.
Like to know? RR vs CSK Head-to-Head ipl records
Quick bio (at a glance)
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ravichandran Ashwin |
| Born | September 17, 1986 (Chennai) |
| Height | ~6 ft 2 in |
| Batting / Bowling | Right-hand bat / Right-arm off-spin |
| Primary IPL role | Bowling all-rounder |
Why Ashwin’s IPL career stands out
Ashwin’s numbers are strong, but his true mark on the IPL is strategic: new-ball spells in big games, powerplay control, boundary-denial through phases, and the courage to try unconventional ideas when the format evolved. From learning with CSK’s championship teams to leading a young Punjab unit, and later shaping roles at Delhi and Rajasthan, his arc is a story of constant adaptation.
Read more: MS Dhoni Captaincy Records
As he moves on to overseas leagues, the IPL chapter closes not with fireworks but with a full-circle return to Chennai Super Kings—the stage where the off-spinner first grew into one of the sharpest minds T20 cricket has seen.
