R Ashwin returns to CSK for INR 9.75 crore during IPL 2025 AuctionÂ
Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is back with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The five-time champions made a winning bid of INR 9.75 crore during the 2025 IPL mega auction in Jeddah on Sunday, November 24.
CSK had shown their intent for the player by making the first bid, quickly thwarting the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) out of the way, and pricing out the Rajasthan Royals (RR) to secure the veteran's services.
The off-spinner was released by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) after the 2024 campaign, and was back in the auction pool. He had begun his career with CSK, going on to play seven years for the side, before temporarily switching to the Rising Pune Supergiant.
He went on to have stints with the Kings XI Punjab (now renamed to Punjab Kings), Delhi Capitals, and the Rajasthan Royals since his time away from CSK.
CSK will have the hunting pair of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja bowling in tandem yet again, with the former's improved batting exploits being another encouraging factor to note.
There were strong calls for Ashwin to be brought back to CSK, and the rumors had intensified after the spinner was named as the head of the high-performance centre.
With a strong grip on conditions in Chepauk, being a local player, and consistently featuring in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) to be relevant in the T20 circuit, he proves to be a valuable acquisition at the twilight stage of his career for one final dance.
Ashwin won two IPL titles with CSK in 2010 and 2011
The spinner has fond memories with CSK, playing a crucial role for the team in their consecutive title wins in 2010 and 2011. He was also part of the two Champions League T20 titles that the side secured in 2010 and 2014.
Ashwin had recently sold himself to CSK for INR 8.5 crore during a mock auction that he had staged on his YouTube channel.