Ravichandran Ashwin stunned everyone by announcing his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday, August 27. The former India cricketer took to X, thanking the IPL & BCCI, and also mentioning that he will explore the options of playing other T20 leagues across the globe. However, Aakash Chopra stated that if the veteran has taken this step, will other Indian players follow?
Notably, the BCCI's clause states that an Indian player can play other T20 Leagues after retiring from international cricket and IPL. Dinesh Karthik after retiring from IPL, played SA20 League this season.
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“Ravichandran Ashwin has said goodbye to the IPL as well, and he is now saying that he will go play the different leagues across the globe. He is charting a new course. His IPL career has been terrific, but all good stories come to an end, and his story ends here. Does it mean other Indian players can also go to play in other leagues?” he said.
However, the former Indian opener stated that players could lose money if they start playing other leagues apart from the IPL.
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Aakash Chopra feels more players will follow Ashwin in exploring other T20 Leagues after retirement
“Wherever he puts his name, he is going to get picked, and he will do very well. Indian players aren’t allowed to play in the other leagues to save the novelty of the IPL. If you have to go and play elsewhere, you have to retire not just from international cricket, but also from the IPL, and that’s a slightly big caveat. You can go and play somewhere else only if you say tata bye-bye to IPL money,” he observed.
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“There are very few players like that. Ravichandran Ashwin is doing something incredibly different. He is writing a different story as he is leaving despite having a ₹9.75 crore contract. Everyone cannot do that. If someone is bought for less money, no one buys him outside either. If someone is getting good money here, why would he leave? Ashwin is charting a new course, and too many Indian players will not be a part of this course with him,” Chopra reasoned.
For the unversed, the top T20 Leagues like BBL, SA20 League, CPL, and The Hundred have a huge ambition to get Indian players on board playing in their respective league. Now, with the BCCI's new rule, more retired players can explore and evolve themselves by turning out in these leagues. It remains to be seen whether Ashwin will enroll in the SA20 League just like his good friend and Tamil Nadu state mate Karthik did.
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