Ravichandran Ashwin came up with his reaction on the speculations going around regarding the possibility of his departure from the Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2026.
Ashwin has had a remarkable IPL career over the years and has played for multiple teams. He was signed for INR 9.75 crore by Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2025 mega auctions after he was not retained by Rajasthan Royals.
The veteran spinner had a disappointing campaign in the IPL 2025, having scored just 33 runs and managed to take seven wickets in just nine appearances. Ashwin mentioned that it was the first time in his IPL career that he got to play just nine out of 14 possible matches. Meanwhile, he has sought clarity from Chennai Super Kings after an underwhelming season amid rumours of the franchise parting ways with the veteran off-spinner.
“Last year, I played only nine games; in all my years of playing in the IPL, that was the first year I played just nine games. I always used to play every game for whichever franchise I was in, so it was my first experience like that. I asked for clarity from my side, but I asked for it during the IPL season itself,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, with speculation of him being traded with Sanju Samson of the Rajasthan Royals making the rounds.
Earlier, it was reported that Samson wants to leave RR after a long stint, and CSK could be his next possible team.
“If Samson’s trade is to happen, CSK will have to keep 18 crores free, and then you have to see who you can release to make that space,” he said.
“If tomorrow I’m not in the CSK team, it might benefit them – there’s no doubt about that. But it can’t all be about me,” he added.
Ashwin went on to mention that not everything depends on the player, but he can always express his opinion about wanting to leave a franchise. “Now, a player can express that he does or does not have an interest in renewing the contract and hence can seek clarity. So in this situation, where I am right now, I only sought clarity, which I had, in fact, asked for after the season had ended.
“Right now, there is nothing in my hand. And all these rumours do not come from the player. Take the situation with Sanju, it was not he who said anything. It was either rumours from here and there or from the franchise. And there are a lot of layers to this,” he said.
Having made his debut in the cash-rich league during the 2009 season while playing for CSK, Ashwin has also played for Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals. He has 187 wickets and 833 runs to his name in 220 IPL career matches.
The 38-year-old, who has retired from international cricket, also explained the mathematics of trading, where it can be part cash, part trade, same price trading or an all-cash deal.
“I became a CSK player last year at 9.5 crores, and Sanju Samson’s price is 18 crores at RR. If CSK want to take an 18-crore player, they will have to keep 18 crores free, or they can directly trade with RR.
“You can also trade somewhere else and take him in just a cash deal. I am not saying this is happening because I am conflicted in this matter. I work a little bit with the academy and am working with CSK, so I don’t have any inside news.
“A lot of meetings happen, and decisions are made there on what will be done, and I have no current communication on it. Of course, I can ask for clarity — I have already asked before: what my role is, how I can get better, etc,” he reiterated.