‘I am not sure why Ashwin retired…’: India’s 1983 World Cup winner reflects on Ravichandran Ashwin’s IPL legacy

India’s veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), bringing an end to a storied journey that began and concluded with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Alongside the announcement, Ashwin also revealed his plans to explore opportunities in overseas leagues.

However, as per the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regulations, Indian players are not permitted to participate in foreign leagues while still active in the IPL.

Ashwin’s decision has sparked mixed reactions, with 1983 World Cup winner and former India chief selector Kris Srikkanth expressing disappointment. Srikkanth feels the 37-year-old off-spinner still had plenty to offer in the league and could have continued for at least another couple of seasons.

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“I am not sure why Ashwin retired. If I were in his place, I would have continued playing IPL for at least another two years. Of course, for Ashwin, money, fame or name is not an issue. But he could have played in the IPL for another two years and then gone on to play in the other leagues,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

Srikkanth further added that no other T20 league in the world matches the quality and standards of the IPL.

“One can play other leagues for the sake of it, but what you get in the IPL, other leagues don’t come close to it,” he opined.

Srikkanth also heaped praise on Ashwin, recalling his crucial role in Chennai Super Kings’ first IPL title triumphs in 2010 and 2011. He hailed Ashwin as one of the finest players to feature in the league and pointed out how the off-spinner often had the upper hand against former West Indies opener Chris Gayle.

“Ashwin has been one of the best IPL cricketers India has produced. His name to fame itself was through the IPL and CSK, especially when he kept dismissing Chris Gayle for fun,” he remarked.

Ashwin’s heroics in the IPL 2011 final remain unforgettable. He dismantled Royal Challengers Bangalore’s batting line-up, dismissing Chris Gayle for a three-ball duck in the very first over of the run chase. The off-spinner also sent back opener Mayank Agarwal and captain Daniel Vettori, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 16. Thanks to Ashwin’s brilliant performance, Chennai Super Kings cruised to a 58-run victory in the final.