It Is Franchise Cricket, No Room For Emotion: Srikkanth Backs CSK’s Decision To Let Ashwin Go

On August 8 (Friday), there was a bombshell news report, which said that the five-time IPL winners are set to break all ties with Ravichandran Ashwin, one of their biggest icons. Ashwin’s journey in the IPL with CSK goes back all the way to the time the off-spinner contributed massively in the franchise’s back-to-back title wins in 2010 and 2011. 

When Ashwin returned to CSK ahead of IPL 2025, expectations were high. However, the performances weren’t as expected, as the off-spinner only picked up seven wickets in the competition, averaging 40.42 with an economy rate of 9.12. Ashwin couldn’t contribute with the bat either, scoring 33 runs in four innings. 

India’s World Cup-winner Kris Srikkanth backed CSK’s move to split with Ashwin, stating that it is ‘franchise cricket’ at the end of the day, where emotions don’t have that big a play. 

“Ashwin’s performance wasn’t great in IPL 2025, to be honest. Last time he played before this for CSK was in 2018 [2015], and they haven’t played him really. Even last year, there were many games where he didn’t play. You have to understand that it is franchise cricket, everyone admires his record, but the fact is he didn’t do well for CSK last year. They are picking a team for the future,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel. 

Srikkanth also insisted that the franchise can’t just keep the all-rounder in the setup because he’s a ‘legend of the game’. The former Indian opener reckoned that the franchise are trying to set up a team that could win championships in the future, and Ashwin’s move will kick start that. 

“They need good bowlers, and they are trying to form a team that will win the Championship, so they are going for that. When they left Ashwin back in 2015, no one called it ‘bittersweet’. You can’t keep him just because he’s a legend of the game. Every team are taking such tough decisions. It is franchise cricket, only people like Sachin, Dhoni and Kohli-type players are respected.”

“Last year, India preferred Washington Sundar over Ashwin, so why shouldn’t CSK. It is bound to happen, that’s the format of T20 cricket, and IPL.”

He also touched upon the ‘rumoured’ Samson trade, adding that it is a fantastic move for the five-time IPL winners, and he will succeed at the franchise and be the new face of it heading into their new era. 

“Look at it from a franchise perspective, and suddenly everything changes for RR because their balance goes out for a toss. CSK is a good trade destination for Samson. It will be a fantastic move for CSK, brilliant. Whether RR could agree, I don’t know.”