Indian star cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has decided he’s bowled his last over in the IPL.
The 38-year-old offspinner, who has been part of the league since its early years and remains among its most successful bowlers, announced on Wednesday that he is retiring from the tournament to pursue opportunities in overseas leagues.
The 38-year-old announced his decision on Wednesday morning through a post on social media.
“My time as an IPL cricketer is over. Today begins my time as an explorer of the game across different leagues,” Ashwin wrote.
Ashwin departs the IPL as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in its history, with 187 scalps at an economy of 7.2. His journey began with Chennai Super Kings in 2009, where he later lifted back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011.
Over the years, he turned out for four other franchises — Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, whom he captained for two seasons — before returning to Chennai in 2025. But the homecoming did not unfold as planned.
Bought for INR 9.75 crore at the mega auction, he played only nine matches this season, his fewest appearances since debut, while conceding runs at over nine an over — the costliest year of his IPL career.
Still, Ashwin’s longevity in the format has been remarkable. In an era dominated by wristspinners, he stood out as the only traditional fingerspinner among the IPL’s top wicket-takers. Always seeking reinvention, he developed power-hitting skills for Rajasthan and even opened the batting in Tamil Nadu Premier League matches to expand his range.
He was also never afraid of controversy, being the first cricketer in IPL to be “retired out” tactically, and among the first to run out a non-striker for backing up too far.
Ashwin had already stepped away from international cricket in December 2024 during India’s Test tour of Australia. Now, freed from BCCI’s restrictions on active players, he is eligible to feature in overseas leagues such as the Big Bash in Australia, the SA20 in South Africa, the Hundred in England and the CPL in the Caribbean.
The move mirrors the path of his state teammate Dinesh Karthik, who retired from IPL last year and soon after appeared in South Africa’s SA20. For Ashwin, who has never hidden his hunger to keep learning and competing, the next chapter looks like one of freedom rather than farewell.
“This is about enjoying whatever cricket is left in me,” Ashwin wrote, hinting that while his IPL days are done, his competitive fire is not.//