It Was Mentally Disturbing, Painful: Ashwin Reveals Why He Quit IPL

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed that a “mentally disturbing” and “painful” phase during his time with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) led to his early exit from the Indian Premier League (IPL), despite feeling he could have continued playing longer.

Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat , Ashwin shared that the 2025 season with CSK was personally disappointing and emotionally draining . “I recently spent a disappointing season with CSK. It was a disappointing season for me personally. Honestly, in my mind, I could have played more, but I quit because emotionally, I just did not have the bandwidth,” he said.

Reflecting on the difficult phase, Ashwin added, “I don’t want to go there, it’s mentally disturbing. It was very painful for me,” highlighting the emotional toll and pressure he experienced during that period.

Ashwin also disclosed that he had sought clarity from the franchise regarding his role after being used sparingly during the season. He featured in only nine of CSK’s 14 matches in IPL 2025, marking a limited involvement in the squad.

Explaining his decision to retire, he said, “I decided to retire as it saved them the trouble of having to decide whether to retain me or release me.” He added that the move helped the franchise save around ₹10 crore in purse , allowing them greater flexibility in team-building.

The veteran spinner, who was bought for ₹9.75 crore, said he had expectations and hope for a more meaningful stint but ultimately chose to step away. His remarks underline the uncertainty he faced regarding his position.

CSK, currently led by Ruturaj Gaikwad and still closely associated with veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has been going through a challenging phase, adding further context to Ashwin’s statements.

Ashwin’s candid remarks , made on his personal platform, have sparked wider discussion around player management , team environment , and decision-making within IPL franchises.