Ravichandran Ashwin Reflects on Retirement and Future with Chennai Super Kings

Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India’s most successful spinners, recently announced his retirement from international cricket following the third Test against Australia. The decision, which surprised fans and experts alike, was revealed during a post-match press conference alongside captain Rohit Sharma. Ashwin returned to Chennai shortly after, where he was greeted warmly by friends and family.

Speaking to reporters, Ashwin described his decision as instinctive, noting it came to him on Day 4 of the Gabba Test and was finalized by Day 5. Expressing a deep sense of relief and satisfaction about the move, he stated:

It’s not. It’s emotional for a lot of people. It will be emotional, maybe it will sink in. But for me, it’s a great sense of relief and satisfaction… It had been running in my head for a while… I felt it on day 4 and called it on day 5…

Ashwin, who has taken 765 international wickets, made it clear that his cricketing journey isn’t over. He will rejoin Chennai Super Kings for the 2025 IPL season, a return to the franchise where his IPL career began. He remarked:

I am going to play for CSK and don’t be surprised if I try and aspire to play for as long as I can. I don’t think Ashwin the cricketer is done, I think Ashwin the Indian cricketer has probably called it time. That’s it.

On reflecting about never captaining India, Ashwin humorously remarked:

I can’t anymore. It’s done. No, I have zero regrets. I have seen so many people with regrets from afar, but I don’t want to live my life like that.

Ashwin’s remarkable career and his next chapter with CSK highlight his enduring love for cricket and his intent to keep contributing to the game.