3 teams who should target Ravichandran Ashwin in IPL 2025 Auction ft. Chennai Super Kings
One of the finest off-spinners in world cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin is expected to be a hot property in the upcoming IPL auction which is slated to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 24 and 25. Notably, Ashwin wasn't retained by the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the auction.
Ashwin is expected to play a massive role for India in the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia slated to kick off at the Optus Stadium in Perth on November 22. Over the years, he has emerged as a pivotal member of not only the Indian side but also the franchises he has played for.
Despite his international white-ball career having come to a standstill, he has kept developing new skills and added different dimensions to his game. Ashwin can now be used as a floater in the batting line-up and tends to play different roles in the bowling department as well.
He is expected to be on the radar of quite a few franchises but here are three possible teams that could end up acquiring his services in the upcoming auction:
# 1. Chennai Super Kings
Ashwin started his IPL career with the Yellow Army and it was his stint with Chennai Super Kings that made him a household name. Ashwin made his IPL debut in 2009 for CSK and went on to play for the franchise till 2015.
He took 13 crucial wickets in 2010 and played an instrumental role in CSK’s maiden title triumph. Given his connection with CSK and his familiarity with the surface at Chepauk, Ashwin could return to the franchise which helped him earn wide recognition.
Predominantly, the pitches at the Chepauk offer assistance to the spinners and Ashwin is someone who knows the Chennai pitch inside out and could make a massive impact. Before joining CSK, Ashwin played the majority of his age group level cricket at this venue and it could be a very sensible move from CSK to buy him back.
# 2. Lucknow Super Giants
Another franchise that might target Ashwin is the Lucknow Super Giants, who are on the lookout to win their maiden title in 2025. Having released their skipper KL Rahul, LSG will be looking towards a new captain and Ashwin might be an option as well.
The pitch at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow has been the most spin-friendly wicket in the IPL and it's a no-brainer that Ashwin should be among the potential picks for LSG.
He can also play the role of a floater in the batting lineup. With Ravi Bishnoi being retained, Ashwin could forge a great partnership with the leggie.
# 3. Mumbai Indians
The five-time IPL champions have lacked a world-class spinner in the last few years, and Ashwin's experience could come in handy. MI won back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2020.
Since then, they have been a shadow of themselves and Ashwin's inclusion could provide stability in the bowling department. Over the years, MI has played two overseas seamers in addition to Jasprit Bumrah which makes the role of the Indian spinners very important.
Ashwin can stem the run flow in the middle overs and also provide wickets when needed. In addition to his bowling credentials, he has also taken his batting to a whole new level, especially in the T20 format, and could end up donning the MI jersey in the upcoming season.