One of India's finest spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin, announced his Indian Premier League (IPL) retirement on August 27, 2025. The experienced off-spinner, who played 221 matches and took 187 wickets in the tournament, ended his IPL career through a social media post. There was earlier news that Ashwin could leave Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and join another side, but now with this news, CSK will have to go looking for a quality spinner who is also capable of batting in the next mini auction. Ashwin's unavailability will leave a huge void in CSK's bowling line-up, and acquiring a spinner who can also contribute with the bat is now their priority number one. In this article, we will take a look at five players who are capable of filling Ashwin's position in CSK's line-up. 5 Players CSK Can Target After Ashwin’s IPL Retirement Akeal Hosein Akeal Hosein is a consistent player in T20 cricket around the world. The left-arm spinner has appeared in 234 T20 matches, taking 216 wickets at a best of 5/11. His economical figure of just a bit over 7 makes him a great choice as a middle overs bowler. Though with limited chances in the IPL, featuring in just one match for Sunrisers Hyderabad during 2023, his international and franchise cricket experience makes him a wise pick. He can provide control when confronted with spin-friendly conditions like those in Chennai and contribute valuable lower-order runs. Also Read | Ravichandran Ashwin reveals reason behind his sudden Test retirement Sikandar Raza Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza is one of the best T20 all-rounders in the world. At 39, he brings years of experience and has proven himself in various T20 leagues across the globe, including CPL, PSL, MLC, and BPL. Raza has played 305 T20 matches, scoring over 6,000 runs and picking up 185 wickets and these stats clearly displays his ability to perform in this format of the game. Raza has earlier played for Punjab Kings in Indian Premier League 2023 and 2024, appearing in nine games and aggregating 182 runs and taking three wickets. While his IPL bowling figures are modest, his all-round skill and experience of many years make him a fine pick. He can bat in middle order and take wickets by bowling crucial overs, which is what CSK looks out for in a player. Tanush Kotian Tanush Kotian is a young right-arm off-spinner from Mumbai who can also deliver with the bat. He played just one IPL game for Rajasthan Royals in 2024 but did not get any chance to bowl. His domestic T20 career record, however, is excellent with 33 wickets in 33 matches for an economy rate of 6.39. Kotian's ability to bowl his entire quota of overs and provide depth to batting makes him a good option for CSK. The franchise has a history of nurturing young Indian players, and Kotian can be groomed as an eventual replacement for Ashwin. Also Read | Watch: Ashwin Fumes Over Umpire’s Blunder in TNPL Clash Pulkit Narang Pulkit Narang, who is 31 years old and hails from Delhi, has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket while playing for Services. He has featured in 25 T20s and picked up 33 wickets at an average of 15.78, which indicates his wicket-taking ability. Narang has not featured in the IPL yet, but Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is well recognized for developing unheralded domestic talent. With his variety and control, Narang would be an assembly package if given a chance. Domestic cricket exposure makes him one of the strong contenders to be picked in the IPL 2026 mini auction. Manimaran Siddharth Manimaran Siddharth, 27, is a Tamil Nadu left-arm spinner who has demonstrated potential with few opportunities in cricket's world top league. He has played five games for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) across two seasons (IPL 2024 and 2025), claiming three wickets. His domestic T20 statistics are impressive, with 23 wickets from 14 games at an average of just 12.39. What is even more impressive is his economy rate, which is under 6 (5.81). These statistics highlights his ability to bowl in this batters-dominated format. If LSG releases him before the mini-auction, Siddharth can turn out to be a good pick for CSK. He is a local player familiar with the conditions of Chennai and can be employed to bolster their spin department. Also Read | Sanju Samson Regrets Not Retaining Ashwin at RR Amid IPL 2026 Trade Rumours Conclusion CSK will be looking for reviving their spin bowling department after Ashwin's exit. The team has had a historical inclination towards selecting players who can deliver under pressure and excel under different conditions. Akeal Hosein and Sikandar Raza carry the weight of international exposure, while Tanush Kotian, Pulkit Narang, and Manimaran Siddharth offer domestic strength and prospects. By combining experience with new talent, CSK can continue to dominate at Chepauk, where spin bowling plays a huge role. The mini-auction that is going to take place next will be crucial for them in order to have the right mix of players to replace one of their all-time best bowlers.