Former Australian cricketer and IPL expert Tom Moody has advised Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to consider releasing Ravichandran Ashwin ahead of the next IPL season to free up valuable funds. Ashwin, who returned to CSK in the 2025 mega auction for a hefty ₹9.75 crore, hasn’t lived up to expectations. The seasoned off-spinner, who last played for the franchise in 2015, found himself in and out of the playing XI and failed to make a consistent impact.

In eight matches this season, Ashwin picked up just five wickets at an economy of 8.96 — far from the returns CSK would’ve hoped for from such a high-value buy. His best performance came against Punjab Kings, where he returned with figures of 2 for 48, but even that couldn’t mask an underwhelming campaign.

Moody, speaking on ESPNcricinfo, acknowledged CSK’s long-standing strategy of backing experienced players, but stressed the importance of reassessing such investments when the returns do not match expectations.

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“I understand why CSK went for Ashwin — their strategy has always been to trust proven performers. But if they need to release funds for the next auction, Ashwin stands out as an obvious choice,” said Tom Moody.

He further added, “Close to ₹10 crore for a player who isn’t a guaranteed starter is a significant commitment. That’s a tough conversation the CSK management might have to initiate.”

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CSK’s campaign has spiralled downward since their opening win against the Mumbai Indians. The team has struggled to find rhythm and now finds itself near the bottom of the table. Their second-last match of the season is set againstthe  Rajasthan Royals on May 20 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi — a game that could influence their decisions ahead of the 2026 season.