Former India off-spinner R Ashwin has stated that if he hadn’t gone through a “mentally disturbing” and “painful” phase while playing for the Chennai Super Kings, he could have continued to play in the IPL for a little while longer.
The veteran, who ended his IPL career last year after retiring from international cricket in 2024, stated on his YouTube show “Ash Ki Baat” that he made the decision to retire in order to spare the team from having to make a decision on his future.
“…I recently spent a disappointing season with CSK, it was a disappointing season for me personally. Honestly, in my mind, I could have played more, but I quit because emotionally, I just did not have the bandwidth to play while managing everything else,” PTI quoted Ashwin as saying.
After being used seldom during the 2025 season, Ashwin asked CSK for clarification over his role prior to declaring his IPL retirement. In what was to be his homecoming after beginning his IPL career with the same side, he played in just 9 of CSK’s 14 games.
The team, which finished last season in last place, is still having trouble and has now suffered three consecutive defeats under Ruturaj Gaikwad.
“I don’t want to go there, it’s mentally disturbing. It was very painful for me. I don’t want to go there. I discussed a little, then I said, I started in Chennai, I am finishing in my hometown, it’s fine. I decided to retire as it saved them the trouble of having to decide whether to retain me or release me. They also saved Rs 10 crore purse with me going,” he said.
The team, which still takes its identity from a 45-year-old icon in Mahendra Singh Dhoni, signed Ashwin for Rs 9.75 crore. According to Ashwin, they had the money to assemble a more formidable team with younger players.
“They could have bought good players in the mini auction and built a strong squad So, I am disappointed. I had expectations, I had hope,” Ashwin said.
