Chennai Super Kings marquee auction buy, Ravichandran Ashwin, found himself at the center of fan criticism after a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign. During a live stream on his YouTube channel, one fan asked Ashwin to “please leave my lovely CSK family,” a comment that the off-spinner addressed on the spot.
CSK had a forgettable season, finishing at the bottom of the points table and becoming the first team to be eliminated. Ashwin, bought for ₹9.75 lakh at the mega auction, managed only 7 wickets in 11 matches with an economy rate of over 9.00
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Ashwin Acknowledges Poor Season
While streaming live with two panelists to discuss IPL updates and playoff predictions, Ashwin came across the fan’s emotional comment. He paused the discussion to respond, he was quick to notice the comment and addressed it on the live stream.
Understanding the context of the comment, he acknowledged that the performance of his team was not as expected and personally admitted that he didn’t give his best to the team, but he vowed that he and his team would come back stronger next year.
"One thing that I can relate to is his love for the franchise. Let's not make one mistake. When you say something, please make sure that you're doing it in your best interest. I understand what you're trying to say. I also have the same love and interest."
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2025 Setbacks Fuel Ashwin’s Drive for a Comeback
Later, he addressed that he had worked hard on a few areas to improve, especially in the powerplay, where he was the most expensive this season for CSK. Looking ahead to next year, he added that he’ll be working on a few more variations to bowl better in the powerplay and middle overs.
“I have put in a lot of hard work, and there are areas which I can work on, which I know very clearly. In the powerplay, I have given away many runs. To bowl in the powerplay, I have to create more options next year. This is the best I can do,” he added.
He later gave a heartfelt response to the fan, saying that he has been with the team in the past, has qualified for the playoffs, and has even won titles. Now, he feels low seeing his champion team underperform this season.
“I have qualified with CSK for the playoffs in the past. I have won the title. So, when I see a champion like this, I feel sad for the first time. I feel sad about that. That's why I'm sitting in a corner and crying. What to do next? This is my goal," he added.
The year 2025 hasn’t been so kind to Ravi Ashwin. First, he announced his retirement from international cricket, and then, after being picked by CSK at the auction in what seemed like a fairytale comeback to his home in Chennai but his season turned out to be a disappointment. Notably, it was Tom Moody, former SRH coach, who voiced his opinion about releasing Ravi Ashwin from CSK to gather more funds for the next season.
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