ARE Ravichandran Ashwin and Chennai Super Kings drifting apart?
WHILE that may not yet be confirmed, the latest developments in the CSK camp seem to suggest that Ashwin – one of the greatest match-winners for India in red-ball cricket – is likely to part ways with the Super Kings franchise.
The exact reason for the inevitable separation is immediately not clear but the veteran off-spinner is believed to have made up his mind and is understood to have conveyed this to the franchise.
Whether he has got any indications of CSK’s future plans is not known but as Cricbuzz reported yesterday, top CSK officials and players, including current and former skippers, MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad, have been meeting in Chennai over the last few days. It is likely that the franchise discussed plans for the coming season.
In what seems like an inevitable step, the veteran spinner is likely to give up his role as the Director of Operations at the CSK Academy – a position he has held for the past year. If he were to join another franchise, continuing in the CSK role could present a situation of a conflict of interest, something he is, it is learnt, keen to avoid.
A veteran of 221 matches with 187 wickets (with a healthy economy rate of 7.29) and 833 runs (with a strike rate of 118), Ashwin will inevitably find takers in the IPL circuit. The point of interest is whether the player will be traded to another franchise or he will go to the auction. Last season he played nine games for the franchise.
Ashwin was an INR 9.75 crore buy for CSK, marking his return to his home franchise after nine years away. Between 2016 and 2024, he turned out for Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Rajasthan Royals. The veteran off-spinner began his IPL journey with CSK, spending his first eight seasons (2008-2015) with the MS Dhoni-led side; he made his debut in 2009.
The development comes a day after this website reported that Sanju Samson has requested the Rajasthan Royals franchise to release him.
Cricbuzz reached out to CSK officials for a comment. Ashwin was unavailable for immediate response. (Cricbuzz)