'MS Dhoni couldn’t make it for my 100th Test but…': Ravichandran Ashwin's startling revelation on getting picked by CSK ahead of IPL 2025 – SportsTak

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UPDATED:Mar 16, 2025 22:12 IST

Legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s shocking retirement in Australia during the middle of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 shocked everyone. Ashwin ended his international career as the second highest wicket-taker. The veteran all-rounder revealed that he was supposed to hang his boots during his 100th Test outing. 

Ashwin played his 100th Test in Dharamsala against England in 2024 where he picked up nine wickets in the landmark Test. To mark this occasion, the BCCI organised a special ceremony in which Ashwin was given a special memento and even gave a speech in front of his teammates. 
During an event in Chennai, Ashwin revealed that he wanted to announce retirement after his 100th Test in Dharamsala and had even invited former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni.

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However, Ashwin revealed that Dhoni was unable to make it to Dharamsala. He also thanked the five-time IPL-winning captain for bringing him back to CSK, where it all began.
“I called MS Dhoni for my 100th Test in Dharamshala to hand over the memento. I wanted to make that my last Test. But he couldn’t make it. However, I didn’t think he would give me the gift of getting me back to CSK. It’s a much better one. So, thank you, MS, for doing it. I’m glad to be here,” said Ashwin during a book launch event on Sunday.
“Most importantly, I have come back to CSK not as someone who has achieved so much but as someone who has gone through the full circle and wants to come back here and enjoy just like before. It is a wonderful place to be,” he added.
 
Ashwin will now be seen featuring for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which is scheduled to start from March 22. The franchise picked up the spinner in the mega auction for INR 9.75 crore. CSK will start their IPL campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 23 at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. 
Match
Date
Day
Venue
CSK vs MI
March 23
Sunday
Chennai
CSK vs RCB
March 28
Friday
Chennai
CSK vs RR
March 30
Sunday
Guwahati
CSK vs DC
April 5
Saturday
Chennai
CSK vs PBKS
April 8
Tuesday
Mullanpur
CSK vs KKR
April 11
Friday
Chennai
CSK vs LSG
April 14
Monday
Lucknow
CSK vs MI
April 20
Sunday
Mumbai
CSK vs SRH
April 25
Friday
Chennai
CSK vs PBKS
April 30
Wednesday
Chennai
CSK vs RCB
May 3
Saturday
Bengaluru
CSK vs KKR
May 7
Wednesday
Kolkata
CSK vs RR
May 12
Monday
Chennai
CSK vs GT
May 18
Sunday
Ahmedabad
 
Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (WK), Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Rachin Ravindra, Ravichandran Ashwin, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Shaik Rasheed, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramkrishna Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddarth

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