Ravichandran Ashwin ready for the Big Bash Down Under!
Ravichandran Ashwin continues to be just as smart as ever. Done with Indian cricket for good, done with the Indian Premier League (IPL), the 39-year-old master off-spinner has decided to chance his luck in better leagues where he can rake in money. And that is perfectly justified, since he is a pro in the truest sense.
When the 39-year-old unpredictable spinner decided to walk out of the Indian Team, Down Under, in the midst of the Border Gavaskar Trophy Series, unhappy that there was no role for him, it may have seemed as impulsive. Once Ashwin landed in Chennai with his wife and kids, he was honest in speaking about what he wanted in life. There is no way a cricketer like Ashwin, who has been part of many memorable victories for India would take things lying down. It is more than obvious, his working relationship with maverick coach Gautam Gambhir was not the best. Pronto, Ashwin packed up and flew to India.
More recently, Ashwin did make a few heads turn when he decided he had enough with the IPL as well. Having moved from Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings for the 2025 IPL season, Ashwin would have imagined it would be a good homecoming. With CSK doing badly in IPL 2025 and Ashwin not getting enough chances, he said goodbye. It was minus rancour and any bitterness. For someone who still plays in local leagues and the Tamil Nadu Premier League, Ashwin does feel he can still contribute as a cricketer. The catch, he wants to be a hardcore professional who can rake in the moolah. Nothing wrong with that, as Ashwin has been a professional and never get the respect he deserved, or a leadership role in Indian cricket which should have come his way.
There was a bit of flutter two days back, when Ashwin was not picked in the ILT auction for 2026, held in Dubai. Ashwin had placed himself in the top auction bracket at $1,20,000, which is around Rs 1.06 crores. Not a great amount, but he did not find a buyer in the first round. Ashwin was smart in pulling out of the ILT auction, as his price would have eroded.
The latest, Ashwin will play the BBL – Big Bash League – for Sydney Thunder in the forthcoming season, from December 14 to January 25 2056. Ashwin told a leading cricket website on Thursday he still values himself as a cricketer and does not want to play in a league overseas where his price is cut. This kind of an attitude is perfect for the thorough professional that Ashwin is.
Indeed, the BBL may look pale in comparison to the glitz and glamour of the IPL and many more T20 leagues which have sprouted all over the world. If West Indian Chris Gayle could make a ‘killing’ by playing in several T20 leagues and earn money, Ashwin has taken a big plunge.
To be ready to experiment in Australia, where the months of December and January make for a hot Australian summer, Ashwin is ready for the grind. The BBL is hard cricket and Ashwin will hope he can fire up the Sydney side. Call it a coincidence, or karma, Ashwin returns to the same country from where he flew out abruptly – Australia. His news journey will be tracked closely. Add to it the YouTube shows which Ashwin does, he will be acerbic in his opinion for sure!
