Indian leg-spinner Murugan Ashwin on Monday, 26 May 2025 announced his retirement from domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL), drawing the curtain on a career spanning more than two decades across age-group and senior cricket for Tamil Nadu and six IPL franchises. The 35-year-old made the announcement through a detailed post on Instagram.

The Announcement

In his statement, Ashwin confirmed his decision to step away from domestic cricket and the IPL while leaving the door open for other cricketing opportunities. 'I would like to announce that I have decided to call time on my domestic cricket career and my journey in the IPL. I will, however, be exploring new challenges and opportunities, and I look forward to continuing to play the game as competitively as always,' he wrote.

Ashwin traced his cricketing roots back to the age of six and credited the game with shaping his identity. 'Since I started playing cricket at the age of six, I have been deeply in love with the game, and it has blessed me abundantly,' he said.

A Decade Across Six IPL Franchises

Ashwin's IPL journey, which began in 2016, took him through six franchises — Rising Pune Supergiants, Delhi Daredevils, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals. Few domestic spinners can claim exposure to as varied a set of team environments across a decade in the league.

He reserved particular gratitude for the platform the IPL provided. 'The IPL provided the recognition and platform to showcase my talent at the highest level,' he noted, also thanking the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for organising the tournament.

Ashwin also highlighted the privilege of sharing dressing rooms with some of the sport's most celebrated names. 'My decade-long experience in the IPL gave me the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the greats of the game and play under the leadership of legendary cricketers like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Rohit Sharma,' he wrote.

Tamil Nadu's T20 Leading Wicket-Taker

Ashwin's domestic legacy is anchored in his service to the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), which he first represented at the senior level in the Ranji Trophy squad in 2012. Over more than 20 years across age-group and senior cricket, he became the state's highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket and was part of four limited-overs title-winning sides.

'Having represented the state for over 20 years across various age categories, being part of a winning side on four occasions in the limited-overs format, and bowing out as the state's highest wicket-taker in T20s, my memories with TNCA will forever fill my heart with joy and pride,' he said.

Guest Stints and the Road Ahead

In his final seasons, Ashwin also turned out as a guest player for Chandigarh (UTCA) and the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, an experience he described as stepping out of his comfort zone. He expressed gratitude to both associations for welcoming him.

Despite the retirement from domestic and IPL cricket, Ashwin was emphatic that this is not a full stop. 'By God's grace, I still feel there is a lot of cricket left in me. Moving forward, I want to use my experience to take on the new opportunities and challenges this great sport has to offer,' he concluded. The nature of those future opportunities remains to be seen.