R Ashwin reveals 'painful, mentally disturbing' final CSK season, explains IPL retirement

• Ravichandran Ashwin described his final season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as 'painful and mentally disturbing'.
• He chose to retire from the IPL to spare CSK the dilemma of releasing him, given his ₹9.75 crore price tag.
• Ashwin played only nine out of 14 games last season, taking seven wickets and scoring 33 runs.
• He stated he lacked the emotional bandwidth to continue playing while managing other aspects.
• His retirement freed up nearly ₹10 crore in CSK's auction purse, allowing them to build a stronger squad.

Key Questions Answered

Why did Ashwin feel mentally disturbed at CSK?

Ravichandran Ashwin felt mentally disturbed and it was painful during his last season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) because the team's bowling tactics were not aligned with their bowl

What impact did Ashwin's retirement have on CSK?

Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement from the IPL was prompted by a "mentally disturbing" and "painful" final season with CSK in 2025.

Will Ashwin return to IPL in a different role?

Yes, Ravichandran Ashwin will return to the IPL in a new role as part of the Hindi commentary panel for IPL 2026. He retired from playing in the IPL after the 2025 season.