R Ashwin set to play entire BBL 2025 season after ILT20 Auction rejection

Ashwin to play the entire BBL 2025 season [Source: AFP Photo]

In the latest developments, Ravichandran Ashwin, the retired Indian star, will play the entire Big Bash League (BBL) 2025 season after he was rejected in the ILT20 mega auction. He had initially signed a short-term deal with the Sydney Thunder, but after he was not picked in the ILT20 auction, the veteran decided to fully focus on the Australian franchise league.

Initially, he was set to feature in only a handful of games, but the plan changed as the spin-bowler was snubbed in the auction, a decision that came as a surprise. He went unsold in the first round of the auction, and later, R Ashwin withdrew his name, citing that he didn’t want to feature in the league at a lower price.

Ashwin reveals why he pulled out of the ILT20 auction

Ashwin had his ILT20 base price at $120,000, the highest amongst the registered players. However, to his surprise, there was no suitable buyer for him as he went unsold, and the spinner decided to withdraw his name, and now, he has revealed the reason for taking this decision.

"That's the price I wanted as a bare minimum, and I'm happy not to play at this stage of my career if my value isn't met," Ashwin told Cricbuzz. There was always a chance of being picked in the following round but he decided not to continue.

"I was about to pull out a few days before the auction because of the Thunder deal, but since I had already committed to the ILT20 that I would enter the auction, I honoured my word. However, I did not agree to lowering my base price," he said.

The Big Bash League (BBL) 2025 season is set to commence on December 14, and the tournament will run till January 25.

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