'Not sure why Ashwin retired': Kris Srikkanth questions IPL exit, says CSK legend could have played two more years

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth has expressed surprise over Ravichandran Ashwin’s sudden retirement from the Indian Premier League, insisting that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend still had at least two more seasons left in him.Ashwin, 38, announced his IPL retirement on Wednesday after a disappointing 2025 campaign, where he managed only seven wickets in nine matches at an average of 40.42 and an economy of 9.12. Despite the dip in form, the ace off-spinner bows out as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in IPL history, with 187 scalps in 221 games at an impressive economy of 7.20.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Reacting on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth said, “I am not sure why Ashwin retired. If I were in his place, I would have continued playing IPL for at least another two years. Of course, for Ashwin, money, fame or name is not an issue. But he could have played in the IPL for another two years and then gone on to play in the other leagues.”Ashwin has stated that he would now look to explore global T20 leagues, a move Srikkanth believes other Indian players might also adopt in the future. However, he underlined that the IPL remains unmatched in terms of visibility and prestige. “One can play other leagues for the sake of it, but what you get in the IPL, other leagues don’t come close to it,” he said.Praising Ashwin’s legacy, Srikkanth recalled how the spinner became CSK’s trump card during their maiden IPL title wins in 2010 and 2011, as well as in two Champions League T20 triumphs. “Ashwin has been one of the best IPL cricketers India has produced. His name to fame itself was through the IPL and CSK, especially when he kept dismissing Chris Gayle for fun,” he remarked.Srikkanth concluded that Ashwin’s retirement mid-way through the three-year post-mega auction cycle was unusual but suggested it could open doors for him to contribute as a coach or player in foreign leagues.