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"You Didn’t Pay 10 Crore For..." Harbhajan Singh Slams CSK For Ashwin's Benching

Poulomi Chakraborty

Harbhajan Singh On Ashwin's Snub (Source: @HarshaTarak8 /x.com, @IPL/x.com)Harbhajan Singh On Ashwin's Snub (Source: @HarshaTarak8 /x.com, @IPL/x.com)

The defeat against the Punjab Kings proved to be a major blow for the Chennai Super Kings, as they were officially knocked out of the tournament. After starting the season on such a horrible note, they failed to bounce back and became the first team to be eliminated from the tournament.

In the auction table, the CSK management grabbed the limelight by signing Ravichandran Ashwin. But his limited appearance turned the heads, and former CSK spinner Harbhajan Singh openly criticized the franchise's decision to bench him.

Paying 10 Crore To Warm The Bench?

In the IPL 2025 mega auction, the cricket world witnessed a heartfelt homecoming as the Chennai Super Kings purchased Ravichandran Ashwin with a whopping amount of 9.75 crore. But the fans remained stunned by the limited appearance of the spinner in the ongoing season.

Even in the last match against the Punjab Kings, the legendary spinner was seen warming the bench. That move sparked a lot of buzz. Former CSK star Harbhajan Singh slammed the franchise for sidelining Ashwin throughout the season, calling it a baffling waste of talent.

“Chennai didn’t select the team based on conditions. Had Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja played together against Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings could have won the match. You didn’t pay INR 10 crore for Ashwin to bench him. I don’t know why he is not playing, but it seems he might have fought with someone,” Harbhajan said.

Why Is The Snub Only For Ashwin?

In the entire season, the CSK players struggled with their form. Whether it was batting, bowling, or even fielding, the team looked out of sync despite having a star-studded squad. As several players struggled with their form, Harbhajan Singh sparked frustration about only Ashwin’s snub from the playing XI. Along with that, he said if he had been included in the playing XI of the last clash, the outcome might have swung in CSK’s favor.

“He is not the only one who hasn’t performed. Others are still playing despite their ordinary performances, but Ashwin is out of the team. He should have played against Punjab, as the ball was spinning,” he added.

In the upcoming match, the Chennai Super Kings are set to lock horns with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 3. After series of defeats, they will be eyeing a long desired win.