India’s star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is all set to create history in the Big Bash League (BBL).
According to the reports, four franchises are interested in signing him for the last leg of the 2025-26 season.
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If the deal goes through, Ashwin will become the first capped Indian male cricketer to play in the BBL while still fresh from international cricket.
Which four BBL teams are favourites to sign Ravichandran Ashwin?
According to ESPN Cricinfo reports, Sydney Thunder, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, and Travis Head’s Adelaide Strikers are the teams keen to bring Ashwin into their squad.
Among them, Thunder and Hurricanes are said to be the front-runners, with talks moving quickly. A final decision could be made very soon.
The timing works well too. The BBL season will begin on December 14, 2025, and run until January 25, 2026.
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Ashwin is expected to complete his ILT20 commitments in early January and then head to Australia. Whichever team he joins, it is likely to be a big boost for the league not just on the field but also as a marketing success.
Ashwin could play three to four matches at the end of the season and possibly feature in the finals. Reports also suggest his contract might extend into the 2026-27 BBL season.
Why is Ashwin’s move to BBL so special?
No capped Indian male cricketer has ever played in the Big Bash League before his retirement from international cricket.
Ashwin’s decision to step away from the IPL earlier this year has now opened the door for him to try overseas leagues.
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Over the past few years, retired Indian players like Dinesh Karthik, Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa have played in tournaments like the SA20, CPL, and ILT20.
But Ashwin’s signing would be different as it would be a current India great joining a league that has long been trying to attract Indian stars.
How can BBL clubs fit Ashwin into their squads?
Each BBL team can play only three overseas cricketers in their XI. Most squads already have their three locked in through the draft system.
However, the rules also allow teams to keep extra overseas players as replacements, which makes space for someone like Ashwin.
If any team lets go of a foreign signing for tournaments such as the SA20, Ashwin can step in as a replacement player.
His name not being part of the earlier overseas draft isn’t a roadblock either as league rules permit exemptions if a player’s circumstances change, as was the case with Martin Guptill and Nat Sciver-Brunt in recent seasons.
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