Chennai Super Kings (CSK) would be in search of a replacement of Ravichandran Ashwin, who announced his retirement from the IPL. Ashwin will go down as one of the finest off-spinners in CSK history, where he took 97 of his 187 scalps in the cash-rich league. CSK paid a handsome amount of INR 9.75 crore to secure the services of Ashwin in IPL 2025. Although his retirement has freed up a large amount for the franchise, it has also created a vacancy that will be difficult to fill for any player.

Related Article：Ravichandran Ashwin Retired from IPL：What’s His Next Move?

Potential Replacement of Ravichandran Ashwin for CSK

The key reason behind Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement was his mediocre performance in the 2025 edition. He managed to pick up only seven wickets in nine games at an economy of 9.12. Ashwin failed to justify his price tag and was rumoured to be released by the Super Kings. Instead, the legendary Indian spinner bid farewell to his career in the biggest T20 league in the world. Let’s take a look at who can replace Ashwin and become one of the off-spinners in the CSK setup next year.

#1 Maheesh Theekshana

The talented Sri Lankan spinner, Maheesh Theekshana, played for the Rajasthan Royals in the last edition, where he took 11 wickets in 11 games at an economy rate of 9.76. Clearly, he went expensive and didn’t offer much to the Royals in terms of consistent breakthroughs. The Jaipur-based franchise is expected to release Theekshana or might even trade him to CSK, who would be likely interested in bringing him back into the side. In 27 games, he bagged 25 wickets in his three seasons with the side. Interestingly, he had an economy of 7.66, which impressed many in the cricket fraternity.

#2 Michael Bracewell

The New Zealand all-rounder, Michael Bracewell, has been contributing well for the national side in the limited-overs formats. He did well in IPL 2023 for RCB, scoring 58 runs and six wickets in five appearances. Bracewell went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, but he can generate interest from some of the franchises in the upcoming auction. With the departure of Ravindra Jadeja in the coming years, Bracewell can be added as one of the potential off-spinners in CSK squad and a proven finisher.

#3 Mujeeb Ur Rahman

The Afghanistan spinner, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, can also be added as a replacement of Ravichandran Ashwin in CSK’s roster. After a prolonged absence from competitive cricket due to injury, Mujeeb made his comeback in the Shpageeza Cricket League. He bagged 13 wickets in nine games and emerged as the second-highest wicket-taker. Mujeeb represented the Mumbai Indians in a solitary game in IPL 2025, returning with figures of 1/28 off his two overs. He is likely to be released ahead of the auction and can be a perfect addition to the CSK setup. With his countryman Noor Ahmad at the other end, they may create havoc in a few of the spin-conducive pitches.

How Can CSK Rebuild for a Strong IPL 2026 Season?

CSK finished last in the IPL 2025 points table with only four wins in 14 games. They had major failures in the batting as well as bowling departments. In the top order, Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway failed to provide them a potent start, as they struggled with low strike rates and inconsistent scores. They are both likely to be released, as Ayush Mhatre, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Urvil Patel, and Dewald Brevis will be the top four for the Super Kings.

The experienced trio of Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, and Shivam Dube will need to return with a strong output to help the team get a final flourish. The likes of Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, and Vijay Shankar struggled badly and were dropped from the side. With CSK letting them go ahead of the auction, it will free up much purse for them in the auction. In place of them, a young all-rounder will be their target in the IPL 2026 auction.

A remarkable #TATAIPL career 👌 🏆🏆

Thank you for the memories R. Ashwin 🙌

Wishing you the best for the future 👍@ashwinravi99 pic.twitter.com/8PVpUXCVfm

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) August 27, 2025

With Noor Ahmad, Deepak Chahar, and Khaleel Ahmed, they have a fine bowling attack. But CSK will be keen to find a strong replacement of Ravichandran Ashwin. The addition of off-spinners in CSK might prove to be valuable for them in terms of their long-term prospects.