Ravichandran Ashwin has officially closed the chapter on his Indian Premier League (IPL) career after the 2025 season, marking the end of an era for one of the game’s sharpest cricketing minds and most versatile off-spinners. His retirement from IPL cricket follows his international retirement in late 2024, signaling a new stage as he embarks on exploring various other global leagues. This analysis breaks down Ashwin’s IPL journey, his tactical brilliance, key performances, and the impact he leaves behind.
Career Overview and IPL Journey
Ashwin’s association with the IPL spans over 16 years, featuring for five different franchises but with his greatest success linked to Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Acquired by CSK for a hefty ₹9.75 crore in the 2025 mega-auction, his final season saw him deliver 7 wickets in 14 matches, adding to his tally of 56 wickets for CSK alone[3][4]. Over his IPL career, Ashwin appeared in more than 220 matches and is one of the league’s joint fifth highest wicket-takers with 180 IPL wickets, placing him alongside elite bowlers like Sunil Narine[4].
His journey included stints with Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Rising Pune Supergiant, but his tactical acumen and bowling ingenuity often shone brightest during CSK’s back-to-back title wins in 2010 and 2011. He also embraced leadership as Punjab Kings captain in 2018 and 2019, facing mixed results but showcasing his cricketing brain[3].
Tactical Brilliance: The Art of Variation and Control
Ashwin was always more than just a bowler; he was a thinker on the field. His IPL career epitomized strategic off-spin bowling marked by sharp variations, clever use of angles, and precise control—an arsenal that troubled batsmen across conditions.
Opening the Bowling Powerplay: Ashwin made famous the tactic of opening the bowling with spin inside the powerplay alongside MS Dhoni at CSK, disrupting the rhythm of opening batsmen used to pace attacks early on[3]. This move popularized spinner utilization in powerplays across IPL franchises.
Variation Mastery: From the classical off-spinner’s stock delivery to the carrom ball, doosra, and slider, Ashwin’s diverse repertoire kept batsmen guessing. His changes in pace and flight proved instrumental in breaking partnerships and controlling runs during middle overs.
Tactical Awareness: Ashwin’s ability to read batsmen’s weaknesses and adapt his approach was notable. His performances in high-pressure scenarios, like the 2022 IPL where he helped take Rajasthan Royals to the finals with 12 wickets and a handy 191 runs, highlighted his all-round cricketing intelligence[4].
Key IPL Performances and Controversies
While Ashwin’s bowling was his standout attribute, his impact extended with the bat in IPL’s shorter format. Though never a towering run-scorer, he scored crucial runs lower down the order, including a 50+ IPL strike rate that helped his teams in tight chases[1].
One of the most talked-about moments in IPL history involving Ashwin was the infamous ‘Mankad’ dismissal of Jos Buttler in 2019 while captaining Punjab Kings. The run-out at the non-striker’s end sparked widespread debate on cricketing laws and ethics, adding a controversial yet defining episode to his IPL story[3].
Head-to-Head and Recent Form
In the 2025 IPL season, Ashwin played 9 matches, scored 33 runs with a highest score of 13, and took 7 wickets across the campaign[1][5]. Though not his most dominant season statistically, his experience and guile remained valuable assets to CSK’s bowling lineup.
Head-to-head, Ashwin has enjoyed success against many top IPL sides, providing breakthroughs against heavy hitters with a best bowling figure of 4/34 against Punjab Kings in 2016[2]. His longevity and adaptability allowed him to remain competitive against evolving batting lineups.
Impact and Future Prospects
Ashwin’s IPL retirement closes the gate on a glittering chapter but opens one on his role as a cricketing explorer. His statement about beginning a new journey across various leagues worldwide hints at sharing his craft and tactical insights to different playing cultures, enriching the global game[3].
His IPL legacy lies in:
Redefining Spin Bowling in T20s: Using spin in unconventional phases like the powerplay, influencing tactical bowling in T20 cricket.
Strategic Leadership: A captain and tactician who was never afraid to innovate or challenge norms.
Mentorship Role: The knowledge he carries can nurture younger spinner generations in global leagues.
With international retirement finalised in December 2024 and now stepping away from IPL, Ashwin’s future endeavors across leagues will be keenly watched by fans and analysts alike.
Ravichandran Ashwin leaves the IPL not just as a player but as a pioneer who reimagined spin tactics in franchise cricket. His departure marks a reflective moment for a format that evolved alongside his craft. Fans and teams alike will remember him as a cerebral cricketer whose nuances made him a perpetual threat and a master technician of the game.
Source: www.espncricinfo.com