Follow UsRavichandran Ashwin, after registering his name in the ILT20 2025/26 auction, was expected to be the most expensive signing of the season but in a twist that no one saw coming, the 39-year-old ended up going unsold.
Ashwin entered the auction with a base price of $120,000 - the highest available base price - but he had no takers in the first round, after which he withdrew his name from the auction.
But UAE’s loss is Australia’s gain as Ashwin will now be playing the entirety of the BBL 2025/26 season for Sydney Thunder, whom he had signed a deal with in September.
"I have signed up with Sydney Thunder for the entire season," Ashwin told Cricbuzz.
Ashwin, though, has no regrets in going unsold at the ILT20 auction, as he asserted that he is only willing to play if his ‘value is met’.
"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 said.
"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 added.
Ashwin went unsold despite the likes of Andre Fletcher ($260,000) and Scott Currie ($250,000) over 2x his base price.
The 2025/26 edition of the BBL will start on December 14. Ashwin will likely make his Sydney Thunder debut against defending champions Hobart Hurricanes on December 16 at the Bellerive Oval.