Last Updated:
Aakash Chopra praises Ravichandran Ashwin for ending his IPL career with 187 wickets and exploring global T20 leagues, questioning if more Indian players will follow his path.
Ravichandran Ashwin playing for CSK in IPL (PTI)
Former India opener Aakash Chopra has raised questions about the broader implications of Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement from the Indian Premier League, suggesting that his move could potentially allow other Indian cricketers to participate in overseas T20 leagues.
On Wednesday, Ashwin announced the end of his IPL career and expressed his intention to explore playing in franchise T20 leagues globally. Reports from England soon emerged, indicating that Ashwin might participate in The Hundred competition next year.
What Aakash Chopra Said About Ashwin’s IPL Retirement?
“Ravichandran Ashwin has said goodbye to the IPL as well, and he is now saying that he will go play the different leagues across the globe. He is charting a new course. His IPL career has been terrific, but all good stories come to an end, and his story ends here. Does it mean other Indian players can also go to play in other leagues?”
“Wherever he puts his name, he is going to get picked, and he will do very well. Indian players aren’t allowed to play in the other leagues to save the novelty of the IPL. If you have to go and play elsewhere, you have to retire not just from international cricket, but also from the IPL, and that’s a slightly big caveat. You can go and play somewhere else only if you say tata bye-bye to IPL money,” Chopra was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin ended his IPL career as the league’s fifth-highest wicket-taker with 187 scalps in 221 games at an economy rate of 7.2. He began and concluded his IPL career with Chennai Super Kings, his home city-based franchise, and five-time champions.
Ashwin also played for Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals, and captained Kings XI Punjab (now known as Punjab Kings) in the IPL. He also scored 833 runs at a strike rate of 118, including one fifty.
Before Ashwin, wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik retired from the IPL after the 2024 season and played in SA20 for Paarl Royals. Chopra believes Ashwin is charting a unique course, and his stellar IPL career deserves praise.
“There are very few players like that. Ravichandran Ashwin is doing something incredibly different. He is writing a different story as he is leaving despite having a Rs 9.75 crore IPL contract. Everyone cannot do that.”
“If someone is bought for less money, no one buys him outside either. If someone is getting good money here, why would he leave? Ashwin is charting a new course, and currently too many Indian players will not be a part of this course with him. Let’s celebrate Ravichandran Ashwin. He has done incredible things with a clean action in a tough format for finger spinners. Constantly outthinking the batter – it seems like he hasn’t bowled two similar balls,” he concluded.
(With inputs from IANS)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More
Read More
The postEx-IND Opener Reacts To Ashwin’s Plan To Play Overseas Leagues After IPL Retirement | Cricket News appeared first on News18