In Numbers – Ravichandran Ashwin's IPL career: Star spinner bids farewell after 17 years

NEW DELHI: Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Wednesday announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League, bringing the curtains down on one of the most distinguished careers in the tournament’s history.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Ashwin, who featured in the 2025 season for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after the five-time champions bought him back for Rs 9.75 crore in last year’s mega auction in Jeddah, confirmed the decision in an emotional note.“They say every ending will have a new start. My time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today, but my time as an explorer of the game around various leagues begins today,” he wrote.The 38-year-old off-spinner first broke into the IPL in 2009 with CSK and went on to become a key figure in their title-winning campaigns in 2010 and 2011. Over 16 seasons, Ashwin represented five franchises — CSK (2009-2015), Rising Pune Supergiants (2016), Punjab Kings (2018-19), Delhi Capitals (2020-21), Rajasthan Royals (2022-24), before reuniting with CSK in 2025.In all, Ashwin played 221 matches, taking 187 wickets at an economy of 7.20 with best figures of 4/34, while also contributing 833 runs down the order. Though his final season with CSK saw him pick up seven wickets in nine games as the team finished bottom of the table, his tactical acumen and adaptability remained widely respected.Ashwin finished as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the league’s history, a list topped by Yuzvendra Chahal with 221 wickets in 174 matches.Ashwin’s IPL journey stands as a testament to longevity, reinvention, and consistency — qualities that made him one of the league’s most impactful bowlers.