“Ashwin is charting a new course”- Aakash Chopra says off-spinner playing in foreign T20 leagues might enable exodus

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has stated that many more Indian players might end their India, domestic, and IPL careers for greener pastures in foreign T20 leagues since Ravichandran Ashwin called time on his IPL career and announced his interest in foreign T20 leagues.

This led to reports emerging that the Hundred Men’s League has shown interest in Ravi Ashwin’s services for the next season.

Ashwin retired from IPL with 187 wickets in 221 games, playing for five IPL franchises, starting and ending his IPL career at Chennai Super Kings. He also won two IPL titles and two CLT20 league titles with CSK.

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra: If Ashwin has taken this step, will other Indian players follow?

“Ravichandran Ashwin has said goodbye to the IPL as well, and he is now saying that he will go play the different leagues across the globe. He is charting a new course. His IPL career has been terrific, but all good stories come to an end, and his story ends here. Does it mean other Indian players can also go to play in other leagues?” he said on his YouTube channel.

This is not the first time a gamer has done this. Prior to his retirement from Indian cricket, wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik played for the Paarl Royals in the most recent SA20 league season.

“You can go and play anywhere else if you say bye-bye to IPL money.”- Aakash Chopra

However, Chopra believes that players could lose money from playing leagues other than the IPL. He stated that players who are paid well in the IPL will not risk that money to play in foreign T20 leagues. However, if players like Ashwin, who can still contribute to wins for the teams, follow the Tamil Nadu spinner’s path.

“Wherever he puts his name, he is going to get picked, and he will do very well. Indian players aren’t allowed to play in the other leagues to save the novelty of the IPL. If you have to go and play elsewhere, you have to retire not just from international cricket but also from the IPL, and that’s a slightly big caveat. You can go and play somewhere else only if you say tata bye-bye to IPL money,” he observed.

“There are very few players like that. Ravichandran Ashwin is doing something incredibly different. He is writing a different story as he is leaving despite having a ₹9.75 crore contract. Everyone cannot do that. If someone is bought for less money, no one buys him outside either. If someone is getting good money here, why would he leave? Ashwin is charting a new course, and too many Indian players will not be a part of this course with him,” Chopra reasoned.

In order to draw spectators, social media attention, and advertisers, cricket boards worldwide have been hoping to get top Indian names for their domestic competitions. However, the BCCI forbids its players from participating in leagues that directly compete with the IPL unless they retire from all domestic and international cricket.

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