Franchise leagues have opened doors for cricketers worldwide, but Indians rarely step through, mostly because of the BCCI’s rules. A few have, though, once their India and IPL days were done.
They’ve turned up in the BBL, ILT20, and even the short T10 circuit, chasing a mix of fresh competition and decent pay.
With Ravichandran Ashwin now heading to the Big Bash, talk has picked up again about which Indian players have actually managed to play overseas, and what it took for them to get there.
Let’s read through the list of all Indian cricketers who have played in international cricket leagues.
Is Ravichandran Ashwin The First Indian Cricketer To Play In The BBL?
Ashwin’s move to sign with Sydney Thunder is being billed as a historic one: he will be the first capped Indian male cricketer to feature in the Big Bash League.
However, strictly speaking, he is not the absolute first Indian-origin player in the BBL. Unmukt Chand, a former India Under-19 captain who later emigrated and played as a USA national, appeared for the Melbourne Renegades in the 2021–22 BBL season.
Why did Ashwin pursue this path now? After he announced his retirement from the IPL, he became eligible under BCCI rules that bar active Indian players from participating in overseas leagues.
That cleared the bureaucratic hurdle. From the cricketing side, his global appeal and experience made him an attractive signing, and he has evidently chosen to extend his playing life beyond India’s shores rather than retire entirely.
Still, the “first Indian in BBL” label is often applied because Ashwin is the first high-profile Indian player to achieve this milestone. That distinction is what the media emphasizes, even though in strict terms, Unmukt Chand had earlier played in the BBL.
Other Indian Cricketers Who Have Played In International Cricket Leagues
Here is a list of Indians who have played in overseas franchise leagues (especially post-retirement) beyond the IPL:
1. Yuvraj Singh – Global T20 Canada & Abu Dhabi T10
After stepping away from Indian cricket, Yuvraj Singh took his bat to Canada in 2019 and led the Toronto Nationals. The crowds were small but loud, most waving Indian flags. He still had the timing, with a 22-ball fifty against Brampton Wolves was the highlight.
The backlift, the flicks, even the little hop after a boundary. He later turned up in the Abu Dhabi T10, more for the thrill than records, playing short bursts of innings that kept his name moving around the franchise circuit.
2. Shikhar Dhawan – Nepal Premier League
Shikhar Dhawan retired from international and domestic Indian cricket in August 2024. After that, he joined Karnali Yaks in the Nepal Premier League 2024 and played four matches. He has over 10,000 international runs.
Recently, Dhawan signed with Whiterock Warriors in the Canada Super60 and is expected to lead his team in facing the new ball and building partnerships at the start.
3. Suresh Raina – Abu Dhabi T10 & ILT20 (UAE)
Suresh Raina signed up for Deccan Gladiators in the Abu Dhabi T10 League in 2022. He came in after ending his IPL career, known for being dependable in the middle overs, rotating strike, and accelerating when innings demand it.
His fielding remained sharp. Though he didn’t post massive numbers in that T10 stint, his reputation and experience made teams trust him in pressure overs.
4. Robin Uthappa – ILT20 (Dubai Capitals)
After he retired from IPL, Robin Uthappa joined Dubai Capitals in ILT20’s inaugural season (2023). He had a 79-run knock off 46 balls against the Gulf Giants in that league, which earned him the award called “Green Belt.”
He topped run charts early in the season. He was used as an anchor sometimes, other times to accelerate, depending on the match conditions.
5. Yusuf Pathan – Lanka Premier League & Abu Dhabi T10
Yusuf Pathan has featured in the Lanka Premier League and in various T10 tournaments, known for his power hitting, especially late in innings. He is seldom relied on for long innings but for quick runs: clearing boundaries, accelerating strike rate.
He also contributes occasional useful overs in local conditions (spin-friendly) when required. His overseas performances don’t always replicate IPL top form, but make teams fear him in death overs.
5. Irfan Pathan – Lanka Premier League & T10
Irfan Pathan, once a frontline all-rounder for India, played in LPL and T10 formats after retiring. His overseas league contributions include opening the bowling (swing/seam), sometimes bowling in middle overs, and lower-order batting.
In LPL, he has provided experience and control. While he doesn’t hit big nowadays, his value is in using angles, reading pitches, and mentoring younger overseas and local players.
6. Harbhajan Singh – Abu Dhabi T10
Harbhajan Singh, after his high-profile IPL and Indian national career, played for India Legends and in the Abu Dhabi T10. He brings spin experience, especially in winding down high-scoring overs for opponents.
His wicket-taking isn’t as frequent as in his prime, but he influences match tempo. He also draws crowds and gives franchises credibility.
7. Murali Vijay – Global T20 Canada
Murali Vijay, after his international and IPL decline, joined Global T20 Canada. He played as a top-order batsman; his role was to give his team stable starts, facing the new ball.
Performance has been modest, with no huge knocks overseas, but he has shown disciplined play, using classical batting technique in unfamiliar conditions. His overseas exposure is less than that of others.
8. Ambati Rayudu – ILT20 (MI Emirates)
Ambati Rayudu, retired from domestic cricket, joined MI Emirates in ILT20 in early 2024. He left politics temporarily to meet eligibility norms.
With MI, Rayudu played middle-order, often when openers failed, and contributed useful runs when chase situations got tense. In a match against Desert Vipers, his 44 helped push MI into the playoffs. Rayudu has also played in the Caribbean Premier League.
9. Manvinder Bisla – Lanka Premier League
After retiring from Indian cricket, Manvinder Bisla registered himself for the auction in the Lanka Premier League. He was picked by the Colombo Kings.
He didn’t get a chance to play a match in the league. Bisla has actively featured in the Legends League in the last few years.
10. Dinesh Karthik – SA20
Dinesh Karthik retired from IPL in 2024 and joined the Paarl Royals in the SA20 2025. He played 11 matches in the league and scored 130 runs in eight outings.
Karthik has recently signed with Sharjah Warriors for the upcoming season of the ILT20. Karthik was a part of the Bangla Tigers squad in the Abu Dhabi T10 2024.
Are Indian Cricketers Not Allowed To Play International Leagues?
Generally, active Indian cricketers under a BCCI contract are disallowed from joining foreign franchise leagues. The BCCI’s policy is that only retired Indian players may participate in overseas T20 or franchise competitions.
One reason offered is the protection of the IPL’s prestige and schedule. If active Indians played abroad, it would create clashes, dilute domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, and complicate selection windows.
As former India coach Rahul Dravid once pointed out, allowing Indian players to play other leagues simultaneously could disrupt India’s domestic structure and reduce the emphasis on longer formats.
Due to these provisions, nearly all Indians who have played for overseas franchises have done so after stepping away from active Indian cricket.
Related Read:
Conclusion: Several Retired Indian Cricketers Have Played In International Cricket Leagues Before R Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin’s upcoming BBL stint marks a milestone, but he is part of a broader pattern of Indian cricketers extending their careers overseas once official Indian commitments conclude.
Most of those listed above began foreign league careers only after BCCI restrictions no longer applied.
Ashwin’s signing with the Sydney Thunder and the media focus surrounding him stem from his status as a high-profile player crossing over after retirement, rather than being the sole pioneer.
The overseas franchise option now presents a path for Indian players to carry on their professional journeys beyond domestic boundaries, within the limits imposed by board policy.
FAQs
The BBL routinely features cricketers from Australia, England, South Africa, the West Indies, New Zealand, and other nations as overseas recruits in each team.
The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2025 will commence on November 9th and conclude with the final on December 13th.
The Sydney Thunder has had mixed fortunes, being competitive and having won a title before. Their recruitment of Ashwin is seen as a statement to boost their spin options and balance.
Under current BCCI rules, active Indian cricketers are not allowed to participate in overseas franchise leagues. Only retired ones can.
Unmukt Chand represented the USA later and played in the BBL. Also, some Indian-origin players or diaspora players represent other countries or franchise teams without ever playing for India.
