Ashwin's IPL Exit Sparks Debate: Chopra Questions if Others Will Follow the Overseas League Route

NEW DELHI: Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League on Wednesday, bringing the curtain down on a glittering IPL career but leaving the cricketing world buzzing with speculation about his future. In his post on X, Ashwin hinted at exploring new overseas leagues, and reports from England quickly linked him with a possible stint in The Hundred next season.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Reacting to the development, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra described the move as a bold and unprecedented step, wondering aloud whether Ashwin’s decision could inspire other Indian players to tread the same 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 asked on his YouTube channel.However, Chopra pointed out the financial challenges involved. “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 explained.Citing Ashwin’s Rs 9.75 crore contract with CSK, Chopra added: “He is doing something incredibly different. Everyone cannot do that. If someone is getting good money here, why would he leave? Ashwin is writing a different story.”Ashwin isn’t the first to make such a switch — Dinesh Karthik had earlier retired and joined the SA20 with Paarl Royals. Global leagues have long eyed Indian stars to boost viewership and sponsorships, but BCCI restrictions remain firm.“Let’s celebrate Ravichandran Ashwin,” Chopra concluded. “He has done incredible things with a clean action in a tough format for finger spinners. Constantly outthinking the batter — it seems like he hasn’t bowled two similar balls.”