When R Ashwin outfoxed 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi for his last IPL wicket

Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday, ending his 16-year association with the tournament. The announcement came through social media just months after his international cricket retirement, with Ashwin expressing his intention to explore the game through various leagues.The 38-year-old's announcement followed speculations about his future at CSK after playing only nine matches in IPL 2025, his second-lowest season appearance since his debut in 2009.Ashwin's IPL career began with CSK in 2009, and his final appearance came in the same yellow jersey in 2025 after rejoining the team for Rs 9.75 crore following a ten-year gap.

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Throughout his IPL career, Ashwin played 221 matches, claiming 187 wickets at an average of 30.22, with best figures of 4/34.

He also contributed with the bat, scoring 833 runs with a highest score of 50 and an average of 13.02.His career highlights include being part of CSK's consecutive title victories in 2010 and 2011. He also played for Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals.

Interestingly, Ashwin's last IPL wicket was 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.Suryavanshi slammed 57 runs off just 33 balls, hitting four sixes and four boundaries.

Facing only his third ball from Ashwin, Suryavanshi went for a slog, but ended up skying it, and Jadeja grabbed the leading edge at short third man.In his podcast with Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson, Ashwin showered praise on the youngster.

“Let me tell you a small story. After the Rajasthan vs Chennai match in Delhi, I was talking to Panish (Shetty, RR lead analyst). You also joined us and left. It isn’t just about his (Vaibhav’s) hitting," Ashwin told Samson on his YouTube channel.“I bowled one to him round the stumps and he smacked it through the covers. The next ball, I bowled a slower one. You (Samson) have kept wickets for me for a long time and you know I do that to see if he would go for the big one," Ashwin said.“I pulled it a bit wide and he (Vaibhav) just waited and gave it a solid shot, and the ball went through mid-on for a single. I remember thinking, ‘What the hell, man… Where has this guy come from?’” Ashwin added.“He (Vaibhav) was 14 and I made my IPL debut 18 years ago. He was not even in the imagination of his parents… That was quite crazy. I saw Jos Buttler talking to Jofra Archer about it — about how it felt to get smashed around by a 14-year-old in the nets," Ashwin said.