'Privileged to share dressing room...': Ruturaj Gaikwad shares heartfelt message for Ravichandran Ashwin after IPL retirement

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad shared a heartfelt tribute for Ravichandran Ashwin after the latter announced his retirement from IPL on August 27. Gaikwad remarked that it was a privilege for him to share the dressing room with someone like Ashwin. Notably, both the players were seen featuring for CSK in IPL 2025 after Ashwin was signed by the franchise for INR 9.75 crore at the mega-auction.

However, IPL 2025 didn't turn out to be a great season for the 5-time IPL champions as they finished at the bottom of the table with just 8 points from 14 matches. Moreover, Gaikwad sustained an elbow fracture mid-way during the season that ruled him out ffor the rest of the campaign and saw MS Dhoni take up the leadership role.

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“To watching you play for the OG CSK and then getting to play alongside in yellow, privileged to share the dressing room with you, Ash anna," Gaikwad wrote on his Instagram story.

CSK's tribute for Ashwin

CSK had also paid a fitting tribute to Ashwin on social media after he had announced his sudden retirement from the cash-rich league. The 38-year-old spent a total of 16 seasons in the league and he had featured for the Chennai-based franchise in 8 of them. Ashwin is nothing short of a legend for the side as he is their third-highest wicket-taker with 127 scalps under his name from 130 matches.

“Chepauk’s own.The carrom-ball thiruppura-sundaran! From your first run-ups in Yellove on the dusty tracks of Anbuden to absolute spin domination in the world’s grandest arenas, you’ve given us everything," CSK's post read.

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Meanwhile, Ashwin capped off his career in IPLas the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the history of the league with a total of 187 scalps under his name from 221 matches. The spinner played for five different franchises during his long career in the league and even though he has bid goodbye to the tournament, he is likely to be seen in action in foreign T20 leagues in the coming future.