Ashwin Retires from IPL Over Workload Concerns
Ravichandran Ashwin has officially announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) after a glorious 17-year journey. The veteran off-spinner, who played 221 matches and picked up 187 wickets, shared that he wants to continue playing cricket in overseas leagues.
Ashwin revealed his thoughts on his YouTube channel, stating his decision was not pre-planned but driven by passion.
“I won’t say it’s a well-planned (decision). But, my way of life has been travelling paths less travelled. But, I don’t do anything for not going in a particular direction. I wouldn’t deny that I didn’t have in mind the thought of playing overseas. It was there. In my mind, I want to really enjoy cricket in the final stages of my cricket career. I don’t want any regrets in life. I will definitely keep playing cricket. For me, cricket is a source of great joy,” said Ashwin.
Cites Workload and Recovery Issues in IPL
Ashwin admitted that the tight IPL schedule took a mental and physical toll. He described the experience as draining, especially with recovery time reducing as he aged.
“I contemplated whether I should play IPL next season. Three months of IPL felt a bit too much. I have gone to a stage of life where I want to play three months of IPL, but it’s very draining. That’s why I am amazed by someone like MS Dhoni. He plays only three months. But, with age, the bandwidth to play those three months keeps decreasing. Three months of travel, playing matches and recovery after matches are not easy. As you age, the ability to recover will go down. After recovering, you have to play again. I thought about all these a lot. There’s this health factor,” he added.
Registered for a Foreign League Already
The 38-year-old disclosed that he has already registered for one overseas league but did not reveal its name.
“I was wondering if I can head to coaching immediately. But, then I thought this candle can still burn. So I want to play. Say if you go overseas and play, you can enjoy the experience. Not many people will recognise you on the streets, you can have fun. It’s not like I will travel across the world and compete in each and every league. No, I can’t play 10 months in a year. I will wait for opportunities and see how I fit into different teams’ plans. I have already registered for one such league. Let’s see how it goes,” Ashwin said.
IPL Journey Comes Full Circle
Ashwin began and ended his IPL career with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), winning titles in 2010 and 2011. Over the years, he also represented Rising Pune Supergiants, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, and captained Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings).
With 187 wickets, Ashwin retires as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in IPL history. His exit marks the end of an era, while fans now eagerly await his debut in foreign leagues.
Stay tuned for all the latest Match Predictions, Fantasy Tips, Cricket updates, match highlights, player analysis, and viral moments!