R Ashwin Commits to Full BBL Season with Sydney Thunder After ILT20 Snub

Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will play the entire 2025-26 Big Bash League (BBL) season with the Sydney Thunder after going unsold in the ILT20 auction earlier this week. Originally slated for a partial stint with Thunder — covering a few league matches and the playoffs — Ashwin has now extended his contract to feature in the full BBL season, which runs from December 14 to January 25.

The change in plans was prompted by Ashwin’s unexpected omission from the International League T20 (ILT20), where he went unsold in the first round of the auction despite entering with a high base price of $120,000 — the maximum among registered players.

Following the snub, Ashwin promptly withdrew his name from the subsequent auction rounds, citing dissatisfaction with the potential offers. “That’s the price I wanted as a bare minimum, and I’m happy not to play at this stage of my career if my value isn’t met,” Ashwin told Cricbuzz.

He added that he had contemplated pulling out of the ILT20 auction days before due to his ongoing discussions with Sydney Thunder. “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,” he said.

Ashwin confirmed to Cricbuzz on Thursday that he has officially signed with the Thunder for the full season. “I have signed up with Sydney Thunder for the entire season,” he stated.

Ashwin’s full-season availability is a boost for Sydney Thunder, who are coached by Trevor Bayliss and finished third in the BBL last season. Although the BBL typically restricts overseas players who have overlapping commitments with rival leagues, both Thunder and the league granted Ashwin an exemption based on his prior verbal commitment to ILT20 — a gesture that required an increased contract value.

The move marks a significant addition to the BBL, as Ashwin brings not only world-class off-spin but also vast experience and leadership to the Thunder squad.