3 min learnMight 8, 2026 06:52 PM IST
Ravichandran Ashwin’s profession within the Indian Premier League (IPL) started and ended at Chennai Tremendous Kings and the previous spin nice revealed how it’s that the group’s captain MS Dhoni took discover of him. Ashwin’s first IPL look got here within the second season of the match, which was performed in South Africa.
Nonetheless, he had been a part of the squad because the first season in 2008, having been picked by CSK as a home participant. “Muttiah Muralitharan was within the group, a legend, bowling his full quota, so I wasn’t getting probabilities (to play for CSK). I didn’t play in 2008, however in 2009, I obtained my first recreation in Cape City, in opposition to Mumbai Indians, in opposition to Sachin Tendulkar. Between 2009 and 2010, I nonetheless didn’t get many alternatives,” mentioned Ashwin who retired from all types of worldwide cricket in December 2024.
Whereas he made solely two appearances within the 2009 season, Ashwin’s position jumped up from the subsequent yr and he grew to become a daily within the enjoying eleven after that. He recalled that that he had as soon as dismissed Dhoni within the Challenger Sequence, a home Record A match that was held from 1994 to 2014. “Within the Challenger Trophy, I obtained an opportunity to bowl to Dhoni. Dhoni obtained out twice in opposition to our group. As soon as, he hit a shot in direction of deep cowl and I took a diving catch. I celebrated it a lot that he truly obtained aggravated.
“He (Dhoni) was like, ‘What’s there to rejoice a lot?’ I informed him, ‘Getting your wicket was my dream. Perhaps this may open a door for me in CSK.’ The following yr, I obtained my probability.”
If one contains the 2008 season wherein he didn’t get a recreation, Ashwin spent a complete of eight seasons in his first stint with CSK, forming an integral a part of the groups that gained the title in 2010 and 2011 and the Champions League in 2011 and 2014. He then spent one season with Rising Pune Tremendous Big, with CSK being suspended that yr. Ashwin then spent two seasons as captain of the Punjab Kings in 2018 and 2019 earlier than spending two seasons with the Delhi Capitals. This was adopted by a three-year stint with Rajasthan Royals and at last, Ashwin returned to CSK for what turned out to be his final IPL season in 2025.