Ravichandran Ashwin is on the verge of making history as the first capped Indian male cricketer to feature in the Big Bash League (BBL). According to reports, four franchises – Sydney Thunder, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers – are in contention to sign the veteran spinner for the latter stages of the upcoming season. Thunder and Hurricanes are believed to be leading the race, with a deal expected to be finalised later this week.
Ashwin’s retirement from the Indian Premier League earlier this year has cleared the way for him to play in overseas T20 leagues, something previously off-limits for active Indian cricketers under BCCI regulations. Only retired Indian players have been allowed to explore such opportunities. Earlier this year, Dinesh Karthik represented Paarl Royals in SA20, while Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan and Suresh Raina all featured in overseas franchise tournaments over the past two seasons.
The 37-year-old has already registered for the inaugural ILT20 auction, which takes place next Tuesday in the UAE. The tournament is scheduled from December 2 to January 4, meaning Ashwin would be available for three to four matches in the BBL once the ILT20 concludes. He could also feature in the finals, should the team he joins qualify. His deal is expected to extend into the 2026-27 BBL season.
The BBL begins on December 14 with the group stage running until January 18, followed by the finals from January 20 to 25. Each franchise is allowed to field three overseas players in their playing XI, with a maximum of seven on their roster including replacement signings. Ashwin had not nominated himself for the overseas draft earlier this year, as he had not yet retired from IPL cricket. However, league rules allow exemptions in special cases, as seen when Martin Guptill joined Melbourne Renegades in 2022-23 and Nat Sciver-Brunt featured for Perth Scorchers despite missing the draft.
The signing franchise will need to manage Ashwin’s salary within their squad budget, though Cricket Australia is expected to arrange an additional marketing agreement that would not be counted under the salary cap. Teams are also permitted to exceed the cap by five percent in a single season with approval from the technical committee, provided the overspend is adjusted across three years.
If the deal is finalised, Ashwin’s arrival would be a landmark moment for the BBL, giving the league a major boost in both quality and global marketability.