''I've even said I'll play ahead of Muralitharan…''- Ravichandran Ashwin recalls his initial days for CSK in the IPL

Ravichandran Ashwin recently announced his retirement from the IPL.

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recalled his initial days in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He revealed how he even argued with team management, saying that he was ready to play ahead of Muttiah Muralitharan.

Ashwin, 38, recently announced his retirement from the IPL and ended his career as one of the greats of the tournament. During his 17-year-long career in the league from 2009 to 2025, he clinched 187 wickets in 221 matches. However, the last season didn’t go his way as he picked up seven wickets in nine games in the tournament, playing for CSK.

Over the years, Ashwin played for five different franchises in the tournament. However, he spent his major with the Men in Yellow, also helping the team win the trophy in the 2010 and 2011 editions.

I’ve even said I’ll play ahead of Muralitharan: Ravichandran Ashwin

The right-arm spinner made his IPL debut in the 2009 season for CSK. At that time, Muralitharan was the primary off-spinner in the squad. Hence, the former Sri Lankan spinner was preferred over Ashwin in the playing XI.

However, Ashwin revealed that he was confident to play ahead of Muralitharan and also informed the management about the same.

“Even when I played for CSK, Muttiah Muralitharan was the off-spinner. When he was picked, many told me ‘There is no way two off-spinners will play’,” he said.

”Unfortunately, I have this problem where I wanted to prove people wrong by trying to respond, ‘I’ll make them play two off-spinners’. I see that as my confidence. I’ve even said I’ll play ahead of Muralitharan. That’s not me belittling Muralitharan. It’s just me trying to get to his level,” he added.

Ashwin also noted that he was always ambitious and confident during his career.

“Had anyone said I would achieve so much at the start of my career, I would have been surprised. Yet, when you first try to make it big, the world will constantly oppose it, saying ‘He’s an overthinker, over ambitious and too big to fit in the glove’. I’ve heard many such things about myself. However, if I am not ambitious about my own life, who will be? “ he said.

Notably, Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket in December last year. After retiring from IPL and Indian cricket, he is looking forward to playing in overseas franchise leagues.

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