Former Indian opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin could have played IPL for another two years. Ashwin announced his retirement from the IPL on Wednesday, sharing the news on his X handle.
It was recently reported that Ashwin could part ways with the five-time champions. During the IPL 2025 mega auction, CSK had brought Ashwin for INR 9.75 crore, as the off-spinner returned to the franchise after nine years. However, the veteran spinner didn’t have a happy homecoming, taking only seven wickets in nine matches at a high economy rate of 9.12.
Overall, Ashwin scalped 187 wickets in 221 IPL matches at an average of 30.23 and an impressive economy rate of 7.20. Ashwin also scored 833 runs in the lucrative tournament.
Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “I am not sure why Ashwin retired. If I were in his place, I would have continued playing IPL for atleast another two years. Of course, 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.”
Srikkanth said other players will also follow Ashwin and would look to play in overseas leagues.
“Probably, other Indian cricketers will also follow this approach of playing in other leagues once their time in the IPL is up. However, the recognition and visibility a player gets in the IPL, is much higher than those from all leagues. So, one can play other leagues for the sake of it but what you get in the IPL, other leagues don’t come close to it.”
The former attacking opener said Ashwin is one of the best IPL cricketers India has ever produced.
“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,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
“He was both an attacking and an economical bowler in the IPL. I am only surprised that he is walking away in the middle of a three-year cycle after the Mega auction last year. In a way, it’s a good sign that players retiring from India can become coaches or players in foreign leagues.”
Ashwin ends his career as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the IPL. The off-spinner won two IPL titles with Chennai Super Kings in 2011 and 2012.
