IPL Veteran Ravichandran Ashwin Retires, Eyes Global Franchise Cricket

Ravichandran Ashwin, the 39-year-old off-spinner, has announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League. The announcement was made on X (formerly Twitter), where he also mentioned his plans to compete in franchise cricket leagues around the world. While the reasons behind his decision remain undisclosed, Ashwin stated that it was time to end his IPL career and explore opportunities in various cricket leagues globally. He conveyed his appreciation to all franchises for the memories and relationships forged over the years, as well as to the IPL and the BCCI. Ashwin was part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025, where he had an underwhelming season, taking 7 wickets in 9 matches. He made his debut in 2009 for CSK and has played 221 matches, representing several franchises and taking 187 wickets. Ashwin has previously played for Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals.