Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t hold back his emotions after the Chennai Super Kings slumped to a third consecutive defeat in the ongoing Indian Premier League season, with their latest loss coming against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Watching the game as a neutral, the veteran spinner admitted that CSK’s struggles brought back painful memories from his own final stint with the franchise.
Opening up on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, “Any suggestions for sad songs? I am watching the match from a neutral point of view, but remember that I recently spent a disappointing season with CSK, it was a disappointing season for me personally as well.” He revealed that while he still felt capable of continuing, mental fatigue played a decisive role in his retirement, “Honestly, in my mind, I could have played more, because emotionally, I just did not have the bandwidth to play.”
When prodded to revisit what exactly went wrong during that period, Ashwin made it clear that the experience still affects him deeply. “I don’t want to go there, it’s mentally disturbing. It was very painful for me. I don’t want to go there,” he said, avoiding specifics but underlining the emotional toll.
He went on to explain the practical reasoning behind stepping away, saying, “I discussed a little, then I said, I started in Chennai, I am finishing in my hometown, it’s fine.” He added, “I decided to retire myself as it would not have created a headache for them (the management) over whether to retain me or release me. They would also save Rs 10 crore if I went.” Despite trying to rationalize the decision, Ashwin admitted the disappointment still lingers: “I am still disappointed. I had expectations, I had hope.”
Speaking about the match against RCB, Ashwin acknowledged that he had predicted the result but still expected more fight from CSK.
“I had expectations for today. I know, I picked RCB to win, because they have strength,” he said, before adding, “But, I banked on the improvement that CSK showed in the last game. I had a little faith in the fact that RCB were coming into this match after a break.” However, he was clearly impressed, and perhaps alarmed by RCB’s performance, “The way RCB played, they warned everyone.”
Ashwin also reflected on CSK’s strategic shift this season, where the franchise has placed greater trust in younger players instead of relying heavily on experienced names as they traditionally have. While he supports the idea in principle, he questioned the execution and the environment being provided.
“These young boys, you have to give them good practice, you have to give them intensity, you have to give them atmosphere from here on. How are they going to do this?” he asked, hinting that the current setup may not be adequately nurturing emerging talent.
The former Indian spinner was particularly critical of how bowlers are being utilized, suggesting that the team management is not playing to individual strengths. Highlighting specific examples, he said, “You can watch SA20 to plan against. Jamie Overton isn’t good at bowling yorkers. You are making him do that.”
He elaborated further on the tactical flaw, noting, “You have to play according to the bowler’s strengths. You are making him bowl wide yorkers from around the stumps.” The consequences, according to Ashwin, were evident during the match itself, “Tim David smashed them hard,” he pointed out, underlining how predictable strategies were punished.
Overall, Ashwin’s remarks painted a picture of both personal disappointment and concern for CSK’s current direction. While he tried to maintain a neutral perspective as an observer, his words reflected lingering emotional scars from his final season and a critical view of how the team is being managed during a challenging phase.
