IPL 2025: 3 players who returned to their former franchise

The 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League mega-auction saw multiple homecomings. In a 10-team tournament, it is quite usual that players would return to their former franchises, as happened with Gautam Gambhir, Sanju Samson and Hardik Pandya among others in the past and it happened with many others in the mega-auction. It was a season of reunions and here are examples of three players who returned to former teams this season:

3. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin will play for Chennai Super Kings after eight years. He joined the franchise in 2009 and played 97 matches for the team before joining Rising Pune Supergiants in 2016. During this time, he picked up 90 wickets and was one of the biggest match-winners for the team, winning the championship twice in 2010 and 2011. 

Chennai signed Ashwin for a whopping INR 9.75 crore in the auction. The five-time champions were keen to get the off-spinner back on board and were the first team to raise the padel. Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals were heavily interested in the player as well but Chennai outpowered other teams to sign him back.

The 38-year-old was overjoyed upon returning to Chennai, where he started his IPL journey and got into the national team. He will be reuniting with legendary MS Dhoni and stated to be waiting to play under Ruturaj Gaikwad and fight for the sixth title in the IPL.

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