Ravichandran Ashwin Reportedly Doesn’t Want to Play for CSK in IPL 2026

Ravichandran Ashwin's last T20 match was the 2025 Tamil Nadu Premier League final, where his side faced a dismal defeat.

Ravichandran Ashwin Reportedly Doesn’t Want to Play for CSK in IPL 2026

R Ashwin has reportedly handed in a request to leave CSK, ahead of the 2026 IPL season. (via NDTV Sports)

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Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is likely to part ways with Chennai Super Kings ahead of the 2026 IPL season, just a year after having returned to the franchise. Ashwin has reportedly dropped a request to the team management to release him.

The development regarding Ashwin comes just a day after it was reported that Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson could be on his way out of the franchise, with Chennai Super Kings being one of the teams interested. A recent report by Cricbuzz cleared the air surrounding Ashwin’s future, claiming that the 38-year-old is looking to go his separate way from his current team before the 2026 IPL season.

Ravichandran Ashwin made an emotional homecoming to the Chennai Super Kings only last year, ten long years after he last played for them in 2015. The franchise bought him for a massive INR 9.75 crores after he had spent the previous nine seasons with three different teams. However, his return was not as memorable as one would have hoped, as he found himself dropped to the bench in the latter stages of the 2025 season.

In a largely disappointing season, Ashwin played nine out of the 14 league stage matches, picking up seven wickets at a poor average of 51.89. Furthermore, the 2025 season was the worst in CSK’s history, as they finished at the bottom of the table for the first time with only four wins.

As a result, the Chennai management is expected to undertake a major squad overhaul, with many senior players, including R Ashwin, seemingly not in the team’s long-term plans.

Top CSK officials and players, including captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and MS Dhoni, have reportedly been meeting in Chennai over the past few days to discuss plans for the 2026 season. R Ashwin is reportedly keen to move out of the franchise, though the exact reason remains unclear. It is believed that he fears he may not get enough playing time due to the emergence of talented Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad.

Additionally, the veteran off-spinner faced several off-field issues during the 2025 IPL season, including making explosive comments about the team’s dismal campaign. It now depends on the management, where they will trade him to another franchise or release him ahead the auction. If Ashwin does leave CSK, he would also have to give up his role as the Director of Operations at the CSK academy, a position he took up only last year.

It will also be interesting to see whether the off-spinner can attract suitors if he leaves CSK, given his age and his declining performance. However, the 38-year-old still remains the fourth-highest wicket-taker in IPL history, with 187 scalps in 221 matches.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Rahul Tripathi: Players CSK Could Release Ahead of the 2026 IPL Season

After a dismal 2025 IPL campaign that saw the team finish last on the table for the first time, Chennai Super Kings are expected to make several changes to their squad before the upcoming season. A number of players are facing an imminent exit.

Ravichandran Ashwin and others released CSK
R Ashwin, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar and Mukesh Choudhary could be released from the CSK squad. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

CSK was bolstered in the final stages of the 2025 season by the emergence of young players like Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Anshul Kamboj, and Urvil Patel. Among the players who could be on their way out, R Ashwin is the biggest name. Other players who are expected to be released include Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Mukesh Choudhary, Devon Conway and Vijay Shankar.

Chennai Super Kings will be actively looking for new players before the 2026 season to fill the gaps in their playing XI. Other players who CSK might release to make room for new acquisitions include Sam Curran, Rachin Ravindra, and Kamlesh Nagarkoti.