Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming referred to R Ashwin’s return to the team as “a homecoming” after CSK bought him for INR 9.75 crore at the IPL 2025 auction in Jeddah. Ashwin was part of CSK from 2009 to 2015, and CSK had to outbid Rajasthan Royals (RR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in a four-way bidding war to secure him.
Speaking of Ashwin Fleming noted his wealth of experience and all-around skills. “It’s a bit of a homecoming for Ashwin, but he’s a world-class bowler,” Fleming said. He emphasized that the price didn’t matter much, as the team was focused on how Ashwin fits into the squad. Despite being in the later stages of his career, Ashwin’s skillset remains strong, and his experience will be valuable, especially with the bat. Fleming added that Ashwin could be used in various roles throughout the tournament.
Fleming said. “It’s not so much the price – you look at how someone fits in, and there’s an emotional attachment for Ashwin with Chennai, so it’s a nice fit. He has still got a very good skillset; his numbers are fantastic. He’s obviously towards the latter part of his career, but the experience he brings, he’s handy with the bat, and we think we can use him in a number of ways.”
Fleming also discussed the importance of having specific bowling options to take wickets and slow down opposing teams. He stressed that simply containing batsmen would not be enough to deal with the power hitting seen in modern cricket.
CSK also brought back New Zealand players Devon Conway (for INR 6.25 crore) and Rachin Ravindra (for INR 4 crore). Fleming admitted that he was surprised there wasn’t more competition for Ravindra, especially after his strong performances in New Zealand’s recent Test series in India. He noted that picking up Ravindra at such a low price was a great deal, and if he continues to develop, he could become a valuable player, much like Jadeja. Fleming expressed excitement about having Ravindra on the team.
Also read: List of Players CSK Bought in IPL 2025 Mega Auction
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