"I Even Said I'll Play Ahead of Muralitharan" – R Ashwin Makes Bold Claim After IPL Retirement
Ravichandran Ashwin said that being ambitious and confident from the start of his career helped him succeed at all levels.
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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend Ravichandran Ashwin said that being ambitious and confident from an early age helped him succeed at all levels. The Tamil Nadu off-spinner recently announced his IPL retirement, months after leaving international cricket.
Ashwin started his IPL career in 2009 with CSK and helped the team win back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. He is also the fifth-highest wicket-taker in IPL history, with 187 wickets in 221 matches. Ashwin also has an impressive international record, taking 765 wickets in 287 matches across all formats.
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Ashwin Reflects on His Career
Days after announcing his IPL retirement on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin said:
"Had anyone said I would achieve so much at the start of my career, I would have been surprised. When you first try to make it big, the world will often oppose you, saying 'He's an overthinker, over ambitious, and too big to fit in the glove.' I have heard many such things about myself. But if I am not ambitious about my own life, who will be?"
He continued:
"Even when I played for CSK, Muttiah Muralitharan was the main off-spinner. Many said, 'There is no way two off-spinners will play.' But I wanted to prove people wrong and thought, 'I'll make them play two off-spinners.' I see that as my confidence. I even said I'll play ahead of Muralitharan. This is not me belittling him. I just wanted to reach his level."
Ashwin is the eighth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 537 wickets, including 37 five-wicket hauls.
IPL 2025 and Career Stats
Ravichandran Ashwin had a poor IPL 2025 season with CSK. The team bought him for ₹9.75 crore, marking his return after his first stint ended in 2015. He picked up only seven wickets in nine matches, with an average of over 40 and an economy of 9.12. CSK finished at the bottom of the table with four wins in 14 games.
After CSK, Ashwin played for Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Rajasthan Royals (RR) from 2016 to 2024. He ended his international career with 765 wickets in 287 matches. In the IPL, he took 187 wickets in 220 matches. Apart from bowling, Ashwin also scored six centuries in Test cricket.
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