Picture Credit: X/IPL
While it has been months that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lifted their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy, beating a top-quality side in Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the talks around the prestigious T20 league haven’t come to rest with the ongoing transfer window. While there have been trade talks around Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson, recently new talks took the internet by storm which said that veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has asked Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to release him.
Notably, the former India off-spinner was picked up by CSK for INR 9.75 Crore at the mega auction, but failed to deliver in the IPL 2025, where CSK finished at the bottom-most spot with only four wins in 14 league stage matches. Lately, reports citing Cricbuzz confirmed that Ashwin has decided to part ways with CSK and has also informed of his decision to the franchise.
Every player wants clarity...: Ashwin opens up on rumours of CSK departure ahead of IPL 2026 auction
While this brought a new twist, the 38-year-old recently broke silence on the matter, while speaking to renowned Indian journalist Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel - Ash ki Baat. Amidst the ongoing trade window, Ashwin tried to clarify on the ongoing rumours, especially indirectly explaining the situation on his behalf. While the former Indian cricketer clarified that playing only a few matches for CSK was a new experience for him, he also went on to elaborate how he approached CSK, asking for a clarity over his role.
"When I played for RR, after completing 1-year, the RR CEO mailed about a performance review… We are so and so, we are expecting this, and we are renewing your contract next year. Like this, every year, it's a 1+1+1 contract," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. "So, every year when the contract finishes, it's the responsibility of the franchise to communicate to the players whether they are retaining or releasing. In this situation, where there is a cover on me, Sanju. Obviously, there should be a review of interest or non-interest. Every player wants clarity. In this case, nothing is in my hands; I've only asked for clarity. In my situation, I became a CSK player, and maximum cover is not coming from the player," he added.
The 38-year-old further went onto clarify the current situation, highlighting, “I became a CSK player at Rs 9.75 Crore last year, and Sanju Samson's price is Rs 18 Crore at RR. Correct? Now, if CSK wants a player worth Rs 18 Crore, they need to have that amount. Okay, so CSK has to release players worth Rs 18 Xrore, or they have to trade off players worthy of Rs 18 crore. You can trade to RR or somewhere else.”
“Now, I am not saying this is happening because I've zero knowledge, because it's conflicted. I have been working a little in the CSK academy, so I don't know the inside news. A lot of meetings have been going on to decide what will happen," Ashwin continued. Before the episode to end, the co-host asked the viewers to comment on the video about whether they want to see Ashwin in a new team or in CSK, to which the star spinner replied: "Arey, mujhe chor do yaar (Please leave me alone with folded hands gesture). Mujhe khusi se rehne do yaar (Guys, let me live happily).”
