He had an underwhelming season with Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025.
Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has reportedly asked Chennai Super Kings (CSK) their future plan of action with regards to the possibility of him playing IPL 2026 for the five-time champions.
According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, Ashwin has asked Chennai Super Kings for more clarity if he is part of their plans for IPL 2026. He added that he doesn’t mind parting ways with Chennai Super Kings. The 38-year-old returned to Chennai Super Kings after he was acquired by the franchise for INR 9.75 crore.
Ashwin reiterated this point during an episode of Ash Ki Baat which was uploaded on YouTube on Monday evening. “Every player asks for clarity. The situation I’m in, I have nothing in my hands except I asked for clarity because I was a CSK player. Most communication isn’t coming from the players’ side.
“Even in Sanju’s situation, clarity is not coming from him. The news is probably coming from rumors or the franchise. I don’t know who is making the news,” he said.
Ashwin explained why he did not ask Samson directly about the trade deal. “About Sanju’s trade saga, I didn’t ask him directly because it’s personal. Even if I had questions, he might not have answers because there are many layers involved. Let’s just take it as it is.
“I became a CSK player last year for 9.5 crores. Sanju’s price is 18 crores for RR right now. If CSK wants a player worth 18 crores, they need to free that amount. They need to release or trade players worth 18 crores or get Sanju through a direct cash deal.”
Ashwin had previously played for Chennai Super Kings from 2009 to 2015. Despite having been acquired by Chennai Super Kings in 2008, Ashwin only made his IPL debut in the 2009 season. He played just two matches that season and ended up taking just as many wickets. He endured a forgettable outing with the Yellow Brigade in IPL 2025, taking just seven wickets from nine matches at an average of 40.42.
AUSA-W
–
INDA-W
–
AMR
193/5
TBW
188/6
Amaravati Royals beat Tungabhadra Warriors by 5 wickets
SVL
207/7
KNK
208/5
Kakinada Kings beat Simhadri Vizag Lions by 5 wickets
BVB
–
AMR
–
VSS
–
SVL
–
SDS
198/7
NDT
196/9
South Delhi Superstarz beat New Delhi Tigers by 3 wickets
NDS
165/9
WDL
154/8
North Delhi Strikers beat West Delhi Lions by 11 runs
ODW
–
CDK
–
PD
–
EDR
–
ZGW
97/6
ZAS
133/5
Zagreb Sokol beat Zagreb Warriors by 36 runs
ZAS
58/10
RJM
141/5
Rijeka Markhors beat Zagreb Sokol by 83 runs 🏆
ZGW
72/9
ZGA
124/8
Zagreb Assassins beat Zagreb Warriors by 52 runs
ZAS
114/5
RJM
125/6
Rijeka Markhors beat Zagreb Sokol by 11 runs
ZGW
48/10
ZGA
163/2
Zagreb Assassins beat Zagreb Warriors by 115 runs
ZGW
–
ZAS
–
ZAS
–
SOS
–
ZGW
–
RJM
–
ZAS
–
SOS
–
ZGW
–
RJM
–
YOR
–
LAN
–
CCC
86/3
91YC
88/5
91 Yards Club beat City Cricket Club by 5 wickets
NVR
113/3
GUG
105/10
Navarang Club beat Guwahati Giants by 8 runs
GTC
–
CCC
–
BCC
–
NAJC
–
CEC-A
113/4
RTZ
87/3
CECC beat Royal Trivianz by 26 runs
KRMPS
104/4
GUJCC
99/5
ACE KRM Panthers beat Gujrat Cricket Club by 6 wickets
BNC
–
KZK
–
TCC
–
KUMS
–
KLPR
–
JOR
–
PRK
–
SEL
–
GBM
147/10
MGD
180/8
Mangalore Dragons beat Gulbarga Mystics by 33 runs
BNB
141/10
MYW
180/5
Mysore Warriors won by 39 runs
HBT
–
SML
–
MYW
–
GBM
–
WI
–
PAK
–
SLGR
158/6
SLBL
86/9
SLC Greens beat SLC Blues by 72 runs
AUS
–
SA
–
MAO
163/6
LOS
153/6
Manchester Originals beat London Spirit by 10 runs
BIP
–
OVI
–
MOW-W
122/6
LSW-W
124/7
London Spirit Women beat Manchester Originals Women by 3 wickets
BIP-W
–
OIW-W
–
That (IPL 2009) was also the last time, prior to the 2025 season, when Ashwin played less than 12 matches in a season. Overall, Ashwin has played 106 IPL matches for Chennai Super Kings and has taken 97 wickets while also scoring 223 runs.
After leaving Chennai Super Kings in 2015, Ashwin played for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant, Kings XI Punjab (Now called Punjab Kings), Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals.
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He was expected to play a major role for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025, but it did not turn out to be a fruitful campaign as one would have expected. The deadline for player retentions and the IPL 2026 mini-auction dates are yet to be announced. Chennai Super Kings too endured a disappointing season after finishing in 10th place with eight points from 14 matches.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, their regular skipper, was ruled out midway through the season because of an injury, and former captain MS Dhoni took over as skipper for the rest of the season. However, that hardly changed Chennai Super Kings’ fortunes as they finished rock-bottom of the IPL 2025 standings.
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