Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin will now play the complete Big Bash League season for Sydney Thunder after going unsold at the ILT20 2026 Auction.
Ashwin made history by becoming the first Indian player with international experience to sign with a BBL team. He had originally planned to play only three matches for Thunder at the end of the season, but those plans have now changed.
What Happened at the ILT20 Auction?
On Wednesday, Ashwin’s name came up for bidding at the ILT20 auction in Dubai. He had set his starting price at $120,000 – the highest amount any player could ask for. However, none of the six made a bid for the former Indian spinner.
After going unsold, Ashwin asked ILT20 officials to remove his name from the second round of bidding.
Why the Change in Plans?
Ashwin explained that he had made a verbal agreement to play in ILT20, which will be played from December 2 to January 4. But because teams had already signed most of their players directly by July, the offers at the auction were much lower than he expected.
“I had agreed verbally with ILT20, but then the franchise offers were pretty low because the direct signings had been closed by all teams,” Ashwin told ESPNcricinfo. “Meanwhile, Thunder came with a good deal.”
He decided to set a price at the auction – if teams didn’t meet it, he would happily join the BBL instead.
Ashwin’s Cricket Background
Ashwin recently retired from IPL cricket in August. During his IPL career, he took 187 wickets and had an economy of 7.2, making him the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the league’s history.
Before Thunder signed him, several other BBL teams showed interest in Ashwin, including Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, and Adelaide Strikers.
Thunder’s first match is on December 16 against Hobart Hurricanes in Hobart. Their second game is against the Sydney Sixers at ENGIE Stadium.
What Cricket Officials Say
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg, who spoke directly with Ashwin several times, called it a big moment for the BBL.” He said, “I have found him a breath of fresh air, I think our fans are going to really enjoy watching him play and engaging with him when he’s here for the BBL.”
This is a major win for Australian cricket, as having a player of Ashwin’s talent and experience will bring excitement to the BBL season.
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