NEW DELHI: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who announced his retirement from the IPL on Wednesday, made a striking revelation about his future plans, confirming that he has already registered for an overseas franchise league.
"Of course I won't be playing anywhere and everywhere for 10 months," Ashwin clarified on his YouTube channel. "Whatever each team's requirements are and the ones I satisfy, I'll play in those leagues. I've already registered for one of the leagues and so let us see how that pans out."
Ashwin said the new opportunity would allow him to play with freedom, without the burden of pressure.
"Playing around the world outside India is fun as nobody knows who you are. You can enjoy it thoroughly. Bowling without any pressure will almost make the ball land perfectly on the spot and even if it doesn't, it's fine as I will finally enjoy playing with joy. I want to play on the global stage the way I played street cricket," he said.
Ashwin's focus now is on striking the right balance between his personal and professional life.
"My thing is I want to live my life on my terms for my happiness. As long as I don't hurt anyone and maybe help a few, it gives as much happiness as the achievements on the cricketing field," he added. "Playing cricket and touching lives, while balancing the family's needs, is the ultimate challenge at this stage."
Ashwin ended with 187 wickets in 221 matches across 16 seasons, finishing as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament's history.
The Hundred has emerged as a potential next destination for Ashwin, according to report. The Daily Telegraph stated it 'understands that Ashwin would be eager to feature in next season's Hundred tournament.'
"Ashwin plans to play in several leagues around the world over the coming years, and has identified the Hundred as a competition in which he would be eager to appear," the report stated.
