Cricketer-turned-expert Kris Srikkant is bemused by the sudden retirement of all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin from the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season. The former India captain feels the off-spinner could have played two more IPL seasons for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The veteran took to X on Wednesday, August 27, and called curtains on his glorious IPL career, in which he finished as the fifth all-time highest wicket taker.
The decision to retire might come from the swirling speculations that surrounded Ashwin, ever since he had a dismal IPL 2025 season with CSK. The 38-year-old managed to pick only seven wickets at an average of 40.42 and an economy rate of 9.12 - his highest ever in an IPL season. Whether his poor returns with the franchise have anything to do with his retirement is not known in the media.
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However, Ravi Ashwin finishes his IPL career from where it all started - CSK. It was playing here in 2010 that the off-spinner made an impact and got selected in all formats in the national side. While the veteran hoped for a happy ending, it was not to be, as he had his poorest IPL season.
Reacting on his YouTube channel, Srikkant said, "I am not sure why Ashwin retired. If I were in his place, I would have continued playing IPL for at least another two years. Of course, for Ashwin, money, fame, or name is not an issue. But he could have played in the IPL for another two years and then gone on to play in the other leagues."
Ashwin, in his retirement post, had stated his desire to play and explore other T20 leagues, a move Srikkanth is confident other Indian retired players will adopt in the future. However, the expert believes nothing can even come remotely close to matching IPL.
"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," he said.
Ashwin, one of the best IPL cricketers India has ever produced: Srikkant
Srikkant further lavished huge praise on the former India off-spinner, saying he is one of the best products of IPL India has ever produced. With CSK, the 38-year-old won two back-to-back IPL titles in 2010 and 2011.
"Ashwin has been one of the best IPL cricketers India has produced. His name to fame itself was through IPL and CSK, especially when he kept dismissing Gayle for fun," he remarked.
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The expert concluded by saying that Ashwin's retirement midway through the three-year IPL cycle was a bit unexpected, and suggested he might explore playing for various T20 Leagues across the globe.
