'Every ending will have a new start' - Ravichandran Ashwin retires from IPL

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has officially announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), ending an association that lasted more than 15 years. The 38-year-old announced his decision on Wednesday through a social media post and revealed that he is looking forward to what is ahead for him.

"Special day and hence a special beginning. 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🤓. Would like to thank all the franchisees for all the wonderful memories and relationships over the years and most importantly the @IPL and the @BCCI for what they have given me until now. Look forward to enjoying and making the most of what’s ahead of me," he wrote on X.

Ashwin finishes as fifth-highest wicket-taker

He made his IPL debut in 2009 with his home franchise, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. His ability to deliver the carrom ball made him a household name. The off-spinner was important in CSK’s back-to-back title wins in 2010 and 2011, with Dhoni even handing him the new ball in the 2011 final against Royal Challengers Bangalore to dismiss Chris Gayle.

After CSK’s suspension in 2016, Ashwin featured for Rising Pune Supergiant but missed the 2017 season due to an injury. He later captained Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2018 and 2019, where his controversial ‘Mankading’ dismissal of Jos Buttler triggered immense debate. Ashwin then moved to Delhi Capitals for two seasons before joining Rajasthan Royals in 2022, where he even created history by becoming the first batter to be tactically retired out in an IPL match.

Nine years after he last wore CSK colours, the veteran returned to his home franchise in 2025, bought for a whopping INR 9.75 crore at the mega auction. However, his final season ended on a poor note, as he managed only seven wickets in nine games, with CSK finishing at the bottom of the table.

Over 16 seasons, the Tamil Nadu-born played 221 IPL matches, picking up 187 wickets at an economy rate of 7.20, finishing as the tournament’s fifth-highest wicket-taker. He also chipped in with the bat, scoring 833 runs, including a half-century. In the CLT20, he bagged 30 wickets in 20 matches and played an important role in CSK's victorious campaigns in the 2010 and 2014 editions.