Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on August 27, 2025, closing a prolific 16-season chapter in the T20 tournament. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the 38-year-old shared, “They say every ending will have a new start — my time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today, but my time as an explorer of the game around various leagues begins today.”

Ashwin, who previously retired from international cricket in December 2024 during India’s tour of Australia, ended his Test career with 537 wickets—making him the second-highest wicket-taker in Indian Test history behind Anil Kumble’s 619 scalps.

In the IPL, he featured in 221 matches, claiming 187 wickets at an average of 30.22 and an economy rate of 7.20. His career spanned five franchises—including Chennai Super Kings, where he both debuted and concluded his IPL journey.

With BCCI regulations barring active Indian cricketers from overseas leagues, Ashwin's retirement frees him to pursue opportunities across global T20 tournaments—ushering in a new, boundary-less chapter in his cricketing odyssey.