Former Indian selector Kris Srikkanth said Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spinner Ravichandran Ashwin could have played in the IPL for two more years. Ashwin also surprised Indian cricket fans by announcing his IPL retirement
on Wednesday, August 27 as well. However, the veteran faced a poor IPL 2025 season with the ball, picking up
only seven wickets in nine matches at an average of 40.42 and an economy of 9.12 as well.
Talking about Ravichandran Ashwin’s IPL retirement on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth said: “I am not sure why Ashwin retired. If I were in his place, I would have continued playing IPL for atleast another two years. Ofcourse for Ashwin, money, fame or name is not an issue. He has all of those in abundance. But, he could have played in the IPL for another two years and then gone on to play in the other leagues.”
“Probably, other Indian cricketers will also follow this approach of playing in other leagues once their time in the IPL is up. However, the recognition and visibility a player gets in the IPL, is much higher than those from all leagues. So, 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 added.
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However, Kris Srikkanth called Ravichandran Ashwin one of the best IPL cricketers from India as well. He also played an important role in CSK’s first two IPL titles in 2010 and 2011 as well. He also helped CSK win two Champions League T20 titles in 2010 and 2014 as well.
“Ashwin has been one of the best IPL cricketers India has produced. His name to fame itself was through the IPL. Though he had done well in the domestic competitions and for India in Tests, but he was first recognised through the IPL and CSK, especially when he kept dismissng Chris Gayle for fun,” said Srikkanth.
“He was both an attacking and an economical bowler in the IPL. I am only surprised that he is walking away in the middle of a three-year cycle after the Mega auction last year. In a way, it’s a good sign that players retiring from India can become coaches or players in foreign leagues,” Kris Srikkanth concluded.
