Could Ashwin set a trend of Indians skipping IPL for foreign T20s? Aakash Chopra opines

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has said that Ravichandran Ashwin’s decision to retire from the Indian Premier League (IPL) and look for opportunities in overseas leagues could mark the beginning of a new trend for Indian players.

Ashwin, through a social media post, announced his IPL retirement on Wednesday, August 27, putting curtains on a career where he played for five different franchises, notably, starting with Chennai Super Kings and ending his journey with the same franchise. Chopra believes Ashwin’s move might inspire others, but only a few players are likely to follow this path.

“Ravichandran Ashwin has said goodbye to the IPL as well, and he is now saying that he will go play the different leagues across the globe. He is charting a new course. His IPL career has been terrific, but all good stories come to an end, and his story ends here. Does it mean other Indian players can also go to play in other leagues?” Chopra questioned on his YouTube channel.

As prescribed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), a current Indian player cannot participate in overseas leagues. If a cricketer wants to play in foreign leagues, he has to retire from all forms of Indian cricket. According to Chopra, Ashwin is charting a new course by stepping away from the IPL despite having a lucrative Rs. 9.75 crore contract.

The cricketer-turned-commentator explained that while Ashwin is likely to find opportunities in different leagues, the rules make it tough for other Indian players to do the same.

“Wherever he puts his name, he is going to get picked, and he will do very well. Indian players aren’t allowed to play in the other leagues to save the novelty of the IPL. If you have to go and play elsewhere, you have to retire not just from international cricket, but also from the IPL, and that's a slightly big caveat. You can go and play somewhere else only if you say tata bye-bye to IPL money,” he added.

Ashwin’s retirement decision is nothing short of incredible: Chopra

However, Chopra feels very few cricketers in India will take this bold step. “There are very few players like that. Ravichandran Ashwin is doing something incredibly different. He is writing a different story as he is leaving despite having a Rs. 9.75 crore contract. Everyone cannot do that. If someone is bought for less money, no one buys him outside either. If someone is getting good money here, why would he leave?” reasoned the former India opener.

In the fast-paced T20 world, orthodox Ashwin always found ways to reinvent himself. In 221 IPL matches, he scalped 187 wickets, with best bowling figures of 4/34. Ashwin grabbed headlines in 2019 by running out Jos Buttler at the non-striker’s end. He is also reputed for his big-match temperament, dismissing the ever-dangerous Chris Gayle in the 2011 IPL final and spinning a web around RCB batters in the 2024 IPL Eliminator.

“Let's celebrate Ravichandran Ashwin. Leaving aside the stats, he has done some incredible things. Absolutely clean action, there is no doosra, but he stayed consistently relevant as a bowler. This format is extremely difficult for a finger spinner. He has been outstanding. Constantly outthinking the batter. It seems like he hasn't bowled two similar balls,” he commented.