Comparing Babar Azam and R Ashwin's BBL salary and which player will earn more

Abhinav Tyagi

R Ashwin and Babar Azam - (Source: @Johns/X.com)R Ashwin and Babar Azam - (Source: @Johns/X.com)

On Thursday, September 25, Sydney Thunder officially announced the signing of R Ashwin for BBL 2025-26. The right-arm off-spinner has officially become the first-capped Indian player to feature in Australia's premier T20 league.

Notably, the 15th edition of BBL will kick off on December 14 and run until January 25. Ahead of the upcoming season, Cricket Australia are looking to lure the star players across leagues to increase brand value and help the financially ailing brand by roping in global superstars.

Not just R Ashwin, but the upcoming BBL season will also mark Pakistan's Babar Azam's first season in the Big Bash. The right-handed batter has signed for the Sydney Sixers, and the two Asian talismans will have a go against each other. 

The two players were highly in demand for BBL 15, and this article will shed light on how much salary Ashwin and Babar earn from Australia's premier T20 league.

Babar Azam's BBL Salary 

Since Babar Azam was picked in the Platinum category by the Sixers, the Pakistan superstar would earn up to $420,000 AUD - approximately INR 2.35 crore. Here is a breakdown of how much each player earns from different category.

Draft Salary Bands
                BBL Salary (AUD)
Platinum$420,000
Gold$300,000
Silver$200,000
BronzeUp to $100,000

R Ashwin's BBL Salary

According to a report from ESPN Cricinfo, the salary cap for Ashwin has not been disclosed, but the star India spinner is most likely to attract $420,000 Australian dollar, which is the same as Babar Azam in the platinum salary band, because it is also the highest salary slab for a player in the BBL.

If we compare Ashwin's salary from the IPL, then it will be a significant dip as the right-arm off-spinner earned 9.75 crore for CSK in IPL 2025. Although, it is worth noting that despite earning the same amount as Babar Azam for BBL15, Ashwin will earn higher per-match fees.

Why Will Ashwin Earn Higher Per-Match Fees Than Babar Azam?

Notably, the Sixers have roped in Babar Azam for the entire season, which begins from December 14. However, the same is not the case for Ashwin. The right-arm spinner is also looking to pen a deal with ILT20 and the league will overlap BBL.

Thus, it is likely that Ashwin will only be available for last four matches for the Thunder, which automatically increases his per-match fees. 

Thunder's last four matches of the season are on January 6, 10, 12, and 16, while the ILT20 finishes on January 4. So, if the reports are to be true, then Ashwin is most likely to earn $105,000 AUD per match, which is equivalent to 61,43,000 rupees per match.