Former India spinner R Ashwin has made it clear that going forward, he won’t be covering any Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) matches on his YouTube channel in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).
What happened?
In one of CSK’s matches, former South Africa and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) analyst Prasanna Agoram was seen questioning the franchise’s decision to play Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad over veterans like R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. The video was later taken down, but it sparked controversy.
Following CSK’s 25-run loss to Delhi Capitals at Chepauk, head coach Stephen Fleming called the matter “irrelevant.”
“I have no idea. I didn’t even know he had a channel, so I don’t know that stuff. That’s irrelevant.”
An admin note from R Ashwin’s YouTube channel. (Screengrab)
What Ashwin said?
On Sunday, an admin note was posted on Ashwin’s YouTube channel, stating that they will skip covering CSK’s games.
“Given the nature of the discussions on this forum over the last week, we want to be mindful of how things can be interpreted and have chosen to step away from covering CSK games, both previews and reviews, for the rest of this season,” read the statement.
“We value the diversity of perspectives that come through on our shows and remain committed to ensuring the conversation stays true to the integrity and purpose of the platform we’ve established. The views expressed by our guests do not reflect Ashwin’s personal opinions.
“We appreciate all those who engage thoughtfully with the spirit of the show. Your feedback continues to help us refine and improve what we’ve built over the years. The Small Council will continue with all non-CSK games as usual.
“We are looking forward to witnessing the rest of this exciting IPL season with all of you.”
Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don’t miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap.
