Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has made headlines after surprisingly going unsold in the ILT20 2025/26 auction, despite being tipped to be one of the most sought-after players. The 39-year-old entered the auction with the highest possible base price of $120,000, but found no takers in the opening round. Following this, Ashwin decided to withdraw his name from the remainder of the auction.
However, it didn’t take long for Ashwin to find a new destination.
Ashwin to Play Entire BBL 2025/26 Season for Sydney Thunder
Ashwin will now be seen in action in Australia, having signed a full-season deal with Sydney Thunder for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) 2025/26 season. He had already signed the deal in September, and will now be available for the entire campaign.
“I have signed up with Sydney Thunder for the entire season,” Ashwin confirmed in an interview with Cricbuzz.
The BBL 2025/26 season kicks off on December 14, and Ashwin is expected to make his Thunder debut in a high-voltage clash against defending champions Hobart Hurricanes on December 16 at the Bellerive Oval.
No Regrets Over ILT20 Auction Snub
Despite the ILT20 setback, Ashwin remains unfazed. The seasoned cricketer made it clear that he values his worth and won’t compromise at this stage of his career.
“That’s the price I wanted as a bare minimum, and I’m happy not to play if my value isn’t met,” Ashwin stated. “I was about to pull out a few days before the auction because of the Thunder deal, but since I had already committed to the ILT20 that I would enter the auction, I honoured my word. However, I did not agree to lowering my base price.”
Ashwin’s stance on maintaining his value comes into sharper focus considering some of the other deals at the ILT20 auction — Andre Fletcher was signed for a massive $260,000, while Scott Currie fetched $250,000, both more than double Ashwin’s base price.
While the ILT20 franchises passed on a proven match-winner, Sydney Thunder and the BBL could stand to gain immensely from Ashwin’s experience and skill, especially as he brings years of international and T20 league expertise to the squad.
With his focus now fully on the BBL, fans can look forward to watching one of India’s finest spinners make his mark Down Under once again.
