When the world of cricket identifies its most loyal servants, Ravichandran Ashwin will feature among the top echelons. The all-rounder has broadened the horizons of the game with his sagacious mentality, time and again. All hell broke loose on social media when the off-break ran Jos Buttler out at the non-striker’s end in IPL 2019 while leading Punjab Kings. Yet Ashwin backed his bail-whipping act despite a growing chorus around the gentlemanly spirit, mainly from the purists.
Hailed for popularising the carrom ball, the magician from Tamil Nadu was always on the lookout for a competitive edge, best exemplified by the hours of footage analysis ahead of India’s tour of Australia in 2020 to concoct dismissal plans for Steve Smith. Age no bar, the 39-year-old made a strong comeback to the national setup through the T20 World Cup 2021 after a four-year hiatus from white-ball internationals. Forever a team man, he drew plaudits for retiring out voluntarily during an innings for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022. While these decisions might not have been commonplace at those respective junctures, Ashwin had the self-belief to play cricket the way he deemed fit.
As the stakes rose and margins became infinitesimal with each passing day, especially in the slam-bang format, the need for bowlers who could chip in decisively with the bat arose. Rather than resting on his laurels gained by the primary skillset, Ashwin pushed himself out of his comfort zone. He worked on his power-hitting under the hot sun, opening the batting in TNPL to emerge as an all-round contributor. Rajasthan Royals took notice of his newfangled talent, often promoting him up the order when the team required a solid hand. As the franchise reached the final for the first time since 2008, Ashwin’s hunger and evolutionary ability served as an inspiration for cricketers old and young.
Although his swansong with Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025 yielded just 7 wickets at an economy rate of 9.13, it marked the only edition where he went at more than eight-and-a-half an over. The proficient spinner concluded his IPL journey with 187 wickets in 221 matches at an economy rate of 7.20, which is a testimony to how good he was at the containment job. Having walked away from top-flight cricket, several players foray into commentary or punditry. Considering Ashwin’s tactical brilliance, it was a no-brainer that he will also go on to offer pearls of wisdom. His YouTube channel Kutti Stories with Ash delivers candid conversations, behind-the-scenes insights, and layered match reviews.
However, the fire in his belly with regard to the art of spinning a web hasn’t dimmed a smidgen. Ashwin recently expressed a desire to participate in overseas T20 leagues given his retirement made him eligible to obtain a no-objection certificate from the BCCI, which is adamant about protecting the marketability of the IPL and ensuring availability for the domestic circuit. The affable persona, captaincy potential and versatile capabilities rendered him an exciting prospect for leagues mushrooming around the planet.
Ashwin wanted to start his new innings with the ILT20, an event comprising a decent base of quality pros. He entered the auction with a base price of $120,000, the highest among the registered players. Alas, there was a rude shock waiting for Ashwin as neither team bid for his services. The fact that an experienced campaigner found no takers left the fraternity stunned. The only enrollment with a base price in six figures, Ashwin refused to budge. “That’s the price I wanted as a bare minimum, and I’m happy not to play at this stage of my career if my value isn’t met.”
He was so sure of an opportunity in ILT20 that he pulled out of SA20 in order to devote his energies in one direction, accounting for the clash in schedule. Notwithstanding the lack of interest at the auction table, Ashwin would have been a great addition to ILT20 sides like Gulf Giants, MI Emirates and Dubai Capitals, thanks to his strategic mindset, knack for controlling the middle overs, and value to the leadership group. A brush with the Emirates would have seen the stalwart link up with Chennai Super Kings’ arch-rivals Mumbai Indians in an interesting twist of fate. Moreover, Ashwin was guaranteed to be an asset for Durban Super Giants and Pretoria Capitals in the SA20, owing to their struggles with applying the brakes in the middle phase and combating match-ups. He brings a sense of stability to the attack in high-octane fixtures, a key attribute which can make or break championship runs.
Following the ILT20 bummer, he approached the Big Bash League with renewed vigour and landed a gig at Sydney Thunder. They are perennial underachievers as compared to Sydney Sixers and the inclusion of a serial winner seemed to be the missing piece to their puzzle. A cricketing equivalent of Eric Cantona at Manchester United, pushing Thunders onto the staircase to success? Unfortunately, a knee injury spilt cold water on all those aspirations, a hammer blow for the management as well as the Indian diaspora Down Under.
The false start to his globe-trotting endeavour as a T20 specialist was an open invitation for naysayers, some of them even hinting that Ashwin doesn’t possess the unique selling point to crack the overseas code. For example, the influentiality of a Virat Kohli or the swagger of a Yuvraj Singh. Just when the night seemed to be at its darkest, in came a beam of light which shattered the clouds of negativity. US-based Major League Cricket franchise San Francisco Unicorns signed the spinner in a historic move, making him the first Indian to ply his trade in the tournament.
And with that, the 2025 season comes to an end 🎆 pic.twitter.com/zmm4Oay7eq
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) December 31, 2025
Unicorns are yet to clinch the silverware, finishing runners-up in their previous campaign. While the team has explosive top-order batters like Finn Allen and foreign pacers of Haris Rauf’s caliber, spin is a bone of contention. Ashwin can fill that gap in the best possible manner with his bag of tricks. Not only can he break open games by dislodging partnerships, the smart operator can also be summoned in the PowerPlay, being the only tweaker in IPL history to take 50 or more wickets in the circle. Not to forget the sexy cameos with the bat, his services are exactly what the doctor has ordered for Unicorns to go one better.
When Chris Gayle set out to chase 206 in the IPL 2011 final against Chennai Super Kings, a bombastic start was on the cards. He had smashed bowlers mercilessly to all parts of the ground throughout the season, and an encore on the big night was the perfect recipe for Royal Challengers Bangalore’s maiden IPL trophy. Voila, in stepped Ashwin at a crucial juncture, dismissing the West Indian giant for a duck with a ball that skidded on after two regulation turners. He went on to have a bearing on the summit clash, returning 3/16 as the yellow army clinched back-to-back IPL triumphs. Interestingly, Gayle scored a mere 64 runs off 53 balls against Ashwin in the league, losing his wicket five times in the process.
Ashwin’s big-match temperament shone through even in the IPL 2010 final, where he conceded just 24 runs including a maiden as Chennai Super Kings defended a target of 168 against Mumbai Indians. He didn’t have the smoothest kick-off to his association with the powerhouse, playing just two games in 2009 and getting dropped after five encounters in 2010. “When I came back to the lineup in IPL 2010, we were almost out of the tournament. From there on, I had a very impactful performance,” said Ashwin. An ardent student of the game, he is primed to make a splash at MLC even if it takes a while to acclimatize his arm to the conditions.
While the Unicorns have certainly gained a bulwark with proven pedigree, they can expect Ashwin’s illumination to transcend the field. San Francisco is home to an increasing number of Indians, particularly Tamilians, who are bound to throng the stadium and enjoy the sight of a compatriot setting the stage on fire. An exciting adventure beckons, one that can potentially alter the course of an Indian cricketer’s afterlife as the USA gears up to embrace the sport that has, so far, lived in the towering shadows of the big four – baseball, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey.
