Blessing In Disguise For CSK: Ravi Ashwin's Retirement Boosts Auction Scope

CSK's Updated Purse After Ashwin's Retirement [Source: @ragav_x/X.com]

Retired Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has officially retired from the IPL. The veteran off-spinner played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025 after the team bought him for ₹9.75 crore at the mega auction. 

However, he didn’t have the best season, managing only 7 wickets in 9 matches, with an economy rate of 9.13 runs per over, his most expensive season ever.

Ashwin had earlier made it clear to the CSK management that he wanted clarity on his role in the squad. If the team didn’t have long-term plans for him, he preferred to step aside. So, his retirement doesn’t come as a major shock.

Despite the quiet end, Ashwin will go down as one of the IPL greats. He finished his career with 187 wickets, the fifth-highest in the tournament’s history. His best years came with CSK between 2009 and 2015, where he picked up 127 wickets, won two IPL trophies (2010 and 2011), and became one of the franchise’s key match-winners.

CSK's Updated Purse For IPL 2026 Auction

For CSK, his retirement brings a silver lining. Before Ashwin’s decision, the team had only ₹0.05 crore left in their purse. With Ashwin stepping away, CSK now get back the full ₹9.75 crore they spent on him. 

On top of that, reports suggest they could also receive an additional ₹5 crore, taking their auction purse to about ₹14.80 crore.

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Chennai Super Kings Purse Details

This means CSK will enter the next auction with more money and flexibility to strengthen their squad. While they lose an experienced campaigner in Ashwin, the franchise now has the budget to go after fresh talent.

CSK To Enter IPL 2026 With Biggest Purse As Of Now

For now, Ashwin is the only player to retire from the IPL after the 2025 season. Meanwhile, his decision has created a huge gap between CSK and other teams in terms of auction money. While CSK lead the chart, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) come second with ₹75 lakh. In comparison, Delhi Capitals (DC), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have only ₹20 lakh each. 

Similarly, Punjab Kings (PBKS) have ₹35 lakh, Rajasthan Royals (RR) ₹30 lakh, Gujarat Titans (GT) ₹15 lakh, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ₹5 lakh, and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ₹10 lakh.

Meanwhile, the IPL 2026 mini auction is expected to take place in early 2026, likely in January.

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