Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa believes Ravichandran Ashwin’s IPL legacy won’t be as great as his International career after the off-spinner recently announced his retirement. Uthappa reckons the veteran off-spinner adopted a defensive approach in the lucrative tournament as compared to Test cricket.
During the IPL 2025 mega auction, CSK had brought Ashwin for INR 9.75 crore, as the off-spinner returned to the franchise after nine years. However, the veteran spinner didn’t have a happy homecoming, taking only seven wickets in nine matches at a high economy rate of 9.12.
Overall, Ashwin scalped 187 wickets in 221 IPL matches at an average of 30.23 and an impressive economy rate of 7.20. Ashwin also scored 833 runs in the lucrative tournament.
“I think his legacy (as an IPL player) won’t be as great as an international cricket player because of the options he utilized after a certain point. He used a lot of defensive options in the IPL compared to the offensive options he used in international cricket, especially Test cricket. I wish he used his off-spinner a lot more. It’s such a mixed bag for him in the IPL. A lot was happening to him through his IPL career as well. His primary skill became a secondary objective,” Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel.
On the other hand, Uthappa reckons Ashwin could become a fascinating coach in the IPL and there will be takers for him.
“I think he will make a fascinating coach. But I think his life is going to be way more enterprising than being stuck in a coach’s job. He’ll be a mentor of sorts. That will be a great role for him. He could be a head coach in the IPL. There could be some takers for him,” he reflected.
According to Cricbuzz, Ashwin has shown interest in playing in International League T20.
“Yes, I am in talks with the organisers. Hopefully, I will have a buyer if I register for the auction,” he was quoted as saying.
Ashwin ends his career as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the IPL. The off-spinner won two IPL titles with Chennai Super Kings in 2011 and 2012.
