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Legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s return to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) was underwhelming. Ashwin taking just seven wickets from nine games and scoring 33 runs from four innings added to CSK’s woes in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they finished at the bottom of the points table. Months ahead of the mini-auction, there have been reports that CSK will release Ashwin. Former India opener and chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth feels that it will be a "super move" for the franchise to form a good side after two poor seasons.
“Actually I am with CSK and if they do it, it will be a super move. I think they can muster up around 42 crores and with the youngsters who performed well at the end of the season, they can form a good side,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin was roped in for a whopping Rs 9.75 crore. Srikanth made a scathing remark saying it is franchise cricket, not Tamil Nadu cricket.
“They thought it was a good pick, but unfortunately, you’ve got to understand that it’s franchise cricket at the end of the day and not Tamil Nadu cricket. Yes, all of us admire him for his records, he has done brilliantly for IPL, CSK, India, and Tamil Nadu. But that apart, you have to win championships. The last two years CSK have not qualified for the playoffs,” Srikkanth said.
Last year, Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket during Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Srikkanth also pointed out that Washington Sundar replaced him in the playing XI on Australia tour. He feels that this is corporate cricket and something like this was bound to happen.
“Even Washington Sundar was preferred over R Ashwin in Australia. The point is that he’s had a brilliant career but this is franchise cricket and this is bound to happen. It’s corporate cricket — what can you do? It’s the same corporate cricket that gives you a lot of money,” he added.
Ashwin’s IPL career
Ashwin made his IPL debut in 2009 for CSK. He has played for five franchises so far. From 221 games, he has 187 wickets at an average of 30.22. With the bat, he has 833 runs at an average of 13.01, including a half-century. He has been part of CSK’s IPL-winning team twice.
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