This year, R Ashwin announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League, after leaving a great impact for his franchisee teams, especially Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
A certified legend of the IPL, Ashwin featured in 221 matches across his career, claiming 187 wickets, making him one of the most successful spinners in the tournament’s history. He was an integral part of CSK’s back-to-back title victories in 2010 and 2011.
Ashwin’s IPL journey saw him represent:
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK): (2009-2015, 2025) – 2-time IPL winner.
- Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS): (2016).
- Punjab Kings (PBKS): (2018-2019) – Captained the side.
- Delhi Capitals (DC): (2020-2021).
- Rajasthan Royals (RR): (2022-2024).
The former India spinner retired with the intention to play in the ILT20 League, but he couldn’t make it in the auction. He was the only player with a base price in six figures (\$120,000) and went unsold in the inaugural ILT20 player auction in Dubai.
Ashwin did not reappear in the accelerated auction, but there’s a possibility that he could still feature in the upcoming season as a wildcard, as two franchises, MI Emirates and Desert Vipers, are yet to complete their wildcard signings.
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In the meantime, R Ashwin has committed to a full season in the Big Bash League (BBL) and will feature in all matches for the Sydney Thunder. He had initially signed up for a shorter stint, covering only a few league fixtures and the playoffs, but has now extended his contract to remain available throughout the tournament. The BBL 2025 will run from December 14 to January 25.
Ashwin’s extended participation in the BBL comes for an obvious reason. His planned stint in the ILT20 did not materialise after he went unsold in the first round of the auction on Wednesday.
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He promptly withdrew his name from the remaining rounds, unwilling to feature in the league at a meagre pay, asserting that his value had to be met. His full commitment to the BBL means the Thunder Nation gets an all-season look at one of cricket’s sharpest minds.