Ravichandran Ashwin has made it official that his long journey in the Indian Premier League is over bringing an era to an end for one of India’s most successful spinner bowlers. The 37-year-old announced his decision in a personal note posted on social media, offering thanks to fans, teammates and the franchises for their support throughout his career. In a post, Ashwin dwelled on the impact that the IPL had on his career, which provided him an opportunity to showcase his talent at the highest level in franchise cricket.
Ashwin first played IPL for the Chennai Super Kings in 2009 and quickly grew to be a vital attacking force for MS Dhoni’s unit. His cool approach and intelligent variations were crucial to CSK’s title triumphs in the early 2010s. For a lot of spectators of the league, his battles with a few of the world’s best batters made for one of the tournament’s highlights. He went from franchise to franchise from one year to another playing for Rising Pune Supergiant, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Delhi Capitals and eventually the Rajasthan Royals.
In 220 matches, Ashwin grabbed over 187 wickets in the IPL, and is one of the leading wicket-takers in the tournament’s history. His economy and variation meant that he or she, like any other team he played for, was never left short of options. While many pick up wickets in shorter formats with their pace, some with variation, Ashwin made the cut by reading the game well, adjusting and by virtue of subtle changes in pace and the angle the ball took into the right-armed, medium-pacers: either in the air or off the surface. He frequently acknowledged the value of genuinely studying the conditions and the batters properly and it was an approach that gained him respect throughout the world of cricket.
In a farewell note, Ashwin said that the IPL journey was over, but he was eager to ply his trade in other theatres instead. This has intrigued many as to whether he will coach, mentor or commentate in the future. Fans on social media thanked him and reminisced about some of his finest matches, celebrating his impact on the league.
It’s the end of the road for one of the smartest players ever to have played the game, as per this announcement, IPL has to say goodbye to one of its smartest cricketers. Ashwin’s exit may be an end of a chapter, but his imprint and the lessons he leaves will shape young spinners in India and the world.
