According to former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, he would play for the Sydney Thunder in every game of the 2025 Big Bash League (BBL) season. Ashwin had originally agreed to a shorter contract that would have just included a few league games and the playoffs, but he has since extended it to include the entire tournament.
The dates of the BBL 2025 are set for December 14, 2025, through January 25, 2026. Following the cancellation of his intended participation in the ILT20, the right-arm spinner has prolonged his stay. Unwilling to compete at a lesser salary, Ashwin withdrew his name from the remaining rounds of the October 1 ILT20 auction after going unsold.
Ashwin was unhappy not to be selected despite having the highest base price among registered players, $120,000, when he joined the ILT20 auction. Even though he may still be acquired in subsequent rounds, he decided to shift his attention to the BBL instead.
Ashwin reaffirmed his commitment to the Sydney Thunder for the entire season on October 2.
The Thunder and BBL allowed him an exemption because he had already verbally committed to the ILT20, but the terms of payment had to be changed.
The Sydney Thunder, led by Trevor Baylis, placed third in the BBL standings the previous season. As they strive for a higher finish in the next edition, Ashwin’s presence for the entire season is anticipated to bolster their spin department and give the team invaluable experience.
“I’m content to not play at this point in my career if my worth isn’t reached, and that’s the price I wanted as a minimum. Due to the Thunder transaction, I was on the verge of withdrawing a few days prior to the auction; nonetheless, I kept my promise to participate in the ILT20. But I didn’t consent to reducing my base price,” Ashwin told Cricbuzz.
“I have signed up with Sydney Thunder for the entire season,” he stated.
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