IPL 2026 Trade: Can GT’s Washington Sundar play the Ashwin role for CSK?

Ravichandran Ashwin wasn’t at his best in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. It was the first time since 2010 that the off-spinner didn’t play more than 10 matches in a season. Ashwin went at 9.12 runs per over, his worst economy since his debut in 2009. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) homecoming didn’t go as planned for the veteran spinner or the franchise.

CSK search for Ashwin’s replacement

Ashwin or CSK might have mutually decided to part ways after that trainwreck of a season. But the 38-year-old has made life easy for the 5-time champions by announcing his retirement from IPL. However, CSK still have to find a worthy replacement for him.

That big price tag of INR 9.75 crore attached to Ashwin will come in handy now. It’ll only increase their purse before the IPL 2026 auction. But CSK might have a chance to get a replacement earlier. Since the trade window remains open, they can find someone to fill Ashwin’s shoes.

Among Indians, there aren’t many options. The best one could be Ashwin’s Team India replacement. Even before the off-spinner retired from Test cricket, Washington Sundar was seen as his successor. That New Zealand series validated the opinion, and the England tour proved it. And it might turn out he’s the right man for CSK as Ashwin’s replacement.

GT’s underutilisation of Washington Sundar

The first question would be, will the Gujarat Titans (GT) be willing to let Sundar go? The answer could be yes. The 2022 champions bagged the all-rounder for just INR 3.20 crore. It was perhaps the best buy any team had. But GT didn’t utilise Sundar. He didn’t even play half of the matches in IPL 2025.

Washington Sundar’s stats in IPL 2025

Innings: 5
Runs: 133
Strike Rate: 166.25
Wickets: 2
Economy: 10.24

Sundar bowled a mere 11.5 overs. Shubman Gill and Ashish Nehra clearly preferred Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore over him. This was despite Rashid having a worse economy than Sundar. His batting was similarly underutilised. GT had a very fragile middle order, but even then, Sundar wasn’t played. He showed massive improvements in hitting. His strike rate jumped to 166.25. For content, his career record, despite that last season, is 126.17.

Why trade might be better than auction

At this point, Sundar wouldn’t want to stay at GT. Now, he can ask to be released. Someone of his quality can fetch big numbers at the IPL 2026 auction. But something similar might happen again. The last time Sundar played over 10 matches in an IPL season was in 2020.

What if he gets bought by a team that benches him again? Like what GT and Sunrisers Hyderabad did to him. In that a trade could be the best option. He can determine the terms that way and even the amount of money he gets.

What Sundar gives CSK

Back to Ashwin. 9 of his 31 overs came in the powerplay. Now, Sundar broke onto the scene as a powerplay specialist. He did that for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and for Team India as well. Ashwin wasn’t seen as a wicket-taker either; CSK used a defensive option. Sundar can play that role as well. His modus operandi has always been bowling at the stumps.

Although the MA Chidambaram Stadium pitch wasn’t the usual spin-friendly one, it still aided spinners. And one can expect the same old nature returning. Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad combined rake in INR 26 crore. If even after that the pitch isn’t spin-friendly, CSK are doing something wrong.

That’s why Sundar’s inclusion makes sense. The pitch will spin, and he can bowl in the first 15 overs. Something neither Jadeja nor Noor can do. Now we come to batting. Ashwin was used at numbers four, six, and eight last season, while Sundar batted at only four. But that gives CSK the kind of flexibility they need. He can be used as a floater and come in if and when needed.

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