R Ashwin is now ready to play the entire Big Bash League season for Sydney Thunder. This news came just one day after he went unsold at the ILT20 auction in Dubai.
Ashwin is a veteran Indian spinner and has become the first capped Indian male cricketer to sign for the BBL.
This is big news because Indian players rarely get to play in overseas T20 leagues due to BCCI rules.
Why Ashwin’s BBL Signing Is Big News?
The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) does not permit active players to participate in foreign T20 leagues. Only retired players can do this.
Ashwin retired from IPL in August 2025, which opened doors for him. Before this, no capped Indian men’s player had played in BBL. This makes Ashwin’s signing historic for both Indian cricket and BBL.
Other Indian players have featured in overseas leagues after retirement, but playing a full BBL season is still rare and special.
Details Of The BBL Deal With Sydney Thunder
Ashwin signed with Sydney Thunder on October 2, 2025. Initially, he was supposed to play only three matches in the second half of BBL season because of his ILT20 commitment.
But after going unsold in ILT20 auction, he agreed to play the complete BBL season instead.
Ashwin had set his base price at USD 120,000 for ILT20, the highest among all registered players, but no franchise showed interest. He then decided to pull out from the auction’s second round.
Ashwin explained: “I had agreed verbally with ILT20 but then the franchise offers were pretty low because the direct signings had been closed by all teams. Meanwhile, Thunder came with a good deal, but since I had verbally agreed with ILT20, I entered the auction saying this is the minimum price I want to play for, else I am happy going to the BBL.”
The BBL 2025-26 season starts on December 14, 2025 and ends on January 25, 2026.
Reaction To Ashwin’s Move
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said: “It’s a big moment for the BBL to welcome Ravi here, I have been talking to him personally on a number of occasions. I have found him a breath of fresh air, I think our fans are going to really enjoy watching him play and engaging with him when he’s here for the BBL.”
Ashwin himself seemed satisfied with the Thunder deal and was willing to play for BBL over ILT20 if his value wasn’t met.
Impact On Sydney Thunder’s 2025/26 Season
Sydney Thunder had been looking to strengthen their spin department.
Four BBL teams showed interest in signing Ashwin: Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Strikers and Thunder.
Thunder managed to get his signature, which is a big win for them.
Ashwin ended his IPL career as the fifth-highest wicket-taker with 187 wickets at an economy rate of 7.2. His experience and skill will help Thunder a lot. He will also act as mentor for younger spinners in the team.
Sydney Thunder Fixtures 2025/26 – Matches To Watch
The local derby against the Sydney Sixers will be one match everyone will watch closely.
| Date | Match | Venue | (AEDT/AEST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 16, 2025 | Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 7:15 PM |
| Dec 20, 2025 | Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers | ENGIE Stadium, Sydney | 7:15 PM |
| Dec 22, 2025 | Sydney Thunder vs Brisbane Heat | Manuka Oval, Canberra | 7:15 PM |
| Dec 28, 2025 | Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder | Manuka Oval, Canberra | 7:15 PM |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers | ENGIE Stadium, Sydney | 7:15 PM |
| Jan 3, 2026 | Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes | ENGIE Stadium, Sydney | 7:15 PM |
| Jan 6, 2026 | Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 7:15 PM |
| Jan 10, 2026 | Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder | The Gabba, Brisbane | 3:00 PM |
| Jan 12, 2026 | Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades | ENGIE Stadium, Sydney | 7:15 PM |
| Jan 16, 2026 | Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 7:15 PM |
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What This Could Mean For Indian Players In The BBL
Ashwin’s move could open doors for other retired Indian cricketers. If he does well, more BBL teams might look at Indian talent. This gives exposure to Indian players in Australian conditions. It also helps BBL get more viewers from India.
For now, only retired players can participate. But this is still a good step forward for both Indian cricket and BBL.
