Ravichandran Ashwin Requests Release from CSK Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction

Ravichandran Ashwin, the experienced off-spinner for Chennai Super Kings, is said to be planning an exit before the IPL 2026 season. Reports suggest that Ashwin has requested the team to release him before the next player auction, at a time when there’s also talk about Sanju Samson possibly moving to the five-time champions.

Ravichandran Ashwin Set to End His Journey with CSK After Disappointing Season

Ashwin returned to Chennai Super Kings after being bought for ₹9.75 crore in the 2025 IPL auction. He also played for the team from 2008 to 2015. The off-spinner failed to live up to expectations during the recent season. Ashwin managed to take just 7 wickets in nine matches and gave away runs at a costly economy rate of 9.1. Because of this, he was left out of the playing XI in the later part of the tournament.

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Ravichandran Ashwin Batter

Ravichandran Ashwin, known as Ash, is an Indian cricketer who plays for the India and Rajasthan Royals teams.

Cricbuzz has reported that Ravichandran Ashwin and Chennai Super Kings might go their separate ways. Although there’s no official confirmation yet, the veteran spinner is said to have decided to leave the franchise.

The exact reasons behind this remain unclear, but Ashwin has communicated his intentions to the team. Meanwhile, senior CSK figures, including MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad, have been holding discussions in Chennai about strategies and plans for the upcoming season.

"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 offspinner is believed to have made up his mind and is understood to have conveyed this to the franchise," the report read.

Ashwin May Leave CSK Academy Role to Avoid Conflict of Interest

The report also mentioned that Ravichandran Ashwin is likely to step down as Director of Operations at the CSK Academy, a role he has been handling for the past year. If he moves to another franchise, continuing in his CSK role could cause a conflict of interest, something Ashwin reportedly wants to avoid.

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Chennai Super Kings Founded: 2008

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise that India Cements Limited owns.

"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," the report added.

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