"Didn't Read The Room" - Why Ashwin Went Unsold At ILT20 Auction

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin went unsold in the inaugural International League T20 (IILT20) auction for the 2025-26 season on October 1 (Wednesday), after entering with the highest base price of USD 120,000. The 39-year-old was the only player with a six-figure base price.

After he went unsold in the first round, Ashwin did not re-enter the accelerated auction. Former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull later revealed that Ashwin pulled his name out of contention once he went unsold.

“We're hearing that he may have pulled out of the auction, which is a massive surprise. I mean, you've got to read the room,” Doull said during the live broadcast on YouTube.

“You've got to understand what's going on out there and all that money left, when there are 3-4 teams with over $400,000 left in their pot. I don't think they came here not wanting to spend money - it’s there to be spent. If he pulled himself out, then he just hasn't read the room. I think sides would have gone in for him.”

Despite missing out at the auction, Ashwin could still play in the ILT20 2025-26 as a wildcard, with MI Emirates and Desert Vipers yet to finalise their picks.

Ashwin has already signed with the Sydney Thunder for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia. Initially, the spin-bowling all-rounder was expected to join the BBL only after completing his ILT20 commitments, but that could change if he goes unsigned as a wildcard. The ILT20 will be played from December 2 to January 4, while the BBL runs from December 14 to January 25, meaning Ashwin may now be available for a larger chunk of the Thunder’s campaign.

Earlier this year, Ashwin retired from all forms of Indian cricket, including the Indian Premier League (IPL), making himself eligible for overseas T20 leagues. He is India’s second-highest wicket-taker in international cricket after Anil Kumble and has 317 wickets in 333 T20 matches at an economy rate of 7.11.

At the auction, West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Andre Fletcher attracted the biggest bid of USD 260,000 from MI Emirates. Pakistan players were only picked by Desert Vipers after the PCB suspended their NOCs in the aftermath of the defeat to India in the Asia Cup 2025 final on September 28 in Dubai.

The Vipers secured Fakhar Zaman (USD 80,000), Naseem Shah (USD 80,000) and Hasan Nawaz (USD 40,000) at their respective base prices. Meanwhile, former Vidarbha spinner Akshay Wakhare was signed by Dubai Capitals, and ex-India Under-19 captain Unmukt Chand was bought by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

Complete Squad List

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 

Auction Signings: Michael Pepper (USD 40,000), George Garton (USD 10,000), Brandon McMullen (USD 110,000), Ibrar Ahmed (USD 22,000), Ajay Kumar (USD 10,000), Adnan Idrees Muhammad (USD 10,000), Abdul Manan Ali (USD 10,000), Mayank Chowdary (USD 10,000), Khary Pierre (USD 10,000), Shadley Van Schalkwyk (USD 10,000), Unmukt Chand (USD 40,000)

Retentions + Direct Signings: Liam Livingstone, Alishan Sharafu, Alex Hales, Sherfane Rutherford, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Phil Salt, Olly Stone

Desert Vipers 

Auction Signings: Vriitya Aravind (USD 10,000), Fakhar Zaman (USD 80,000), Naseem Shah (USD 80,000), Qais Ahmad (USD 40,000), Sanjay Pahal (USD 10,000), Bilal Tahir (USD 10,000), Faisal Khan (USD 10,000), Hasan Nawaz (USD 40,000), Tom Bruce (USD 80,000), Matiullah Khan (USD 10,000), Tawanda Muyeye (USD 40,000), Faridoon Dawoodzai (USD 10,000)

Retentions + Direct Signings: Dan Lawrence, Max Holden, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sam Curran, Andries Gous

Dubai Capitals 

Auction Signings: Muhammad Farooq (USD 10,000), Tymal Mills (USD 80,000), Scott Currie (USD 250,000), Mohammad Nabi (USD 80,000), Farhan Khan (USD 10,000), Anudeep Chenthamara (USD 10,000), Usman Najeeb (USD 10,000), Ritesh Mallikarjuna Grandhi (USD 10,000), Shayan Jahangir (USD 10,000), Rushil Ugarkar (USD 10,000), Naveen Bidiasee (USD 10,000), Toby Albert (USD 10,000), Akshay Wakhare (USD 10,000)

Retentions + Direct Signings: Jordan Matthew Cox, Rovman Powell, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Waqar Salamkheil, Haider Ali, Muhammad Jawadullah, Jimmy Neesham

Gulf Giants 

Auction Signings: Asif Khan (USD 26,000), Zuhaib Zubair (USD 10,000), Sean Dickson (USD 10,000), Tabraiz Shamsi (USD 40,000), Liam Dawson (USD 170,000), Fred Klaassen (USD 40,000), Haider Razzaq (USD 50,000), Meet Bhavsar (USD 14,000), Ishtiaq Ahmad (USD 16,000), Lorcan Tucker (USD 10,000), Chris Wood (USD 40,000), Tom Moores (USD 40,000), Ramon Simmonds (USD 40,000)

Retentions + Direct Signings: Aayan Afzal Khan, Mark Adair, Gerhard Erasmus, Blessing Muzarabani, Moeen Ali, James Vince, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz

MI Emirates 

Auction Signings: Muhammad Rohid (USD 140,000), Jordan Thompson (USD 48,000), Naveen-ul-Haq (USD 100,000), Andre Fletcher (USD 260,000), Nosthush Kenjige (USD 10,000), Mohamed Shafeeq (USD 10,000), Zain Ul Abidin (USD 10,000), Usman Khan (USD 10,000), Ackeem Auguste (USD 10,000), Arab Gul (USD 10,000), Tajinder Dhillon (USD 10,000), Zahoor Khan (USD 10,000), Shakib Al Hasan (USD 40,000)

Retentions + Direct Signings: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tom Banton, Romario Shepherd, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow, AM Ghazanfar, Muhammad Waseem, Kamindu Mendis

Sharjah Warriorz 

Auction Signings: Junaid Siddique (USD 170,000), James Rew (USD 10,000), Nathan Sowter (USD 100,000), Dwaine Pretorius (USD 120,000), Jayden Seales (USD 80,000), Harmeet Singh (USD 10,000), Wasim Akram (USD 55,000), Mohamed Nawfer Mohamed Aslam (USD 14,000), Raees Ahmad (USD 10,000), Richard Ngarava (USD 10,000), Shubham Ranjane (USD 10,000), Ethan D’Souza (USD 10,000), Taskin Ahmed (USD 80,000), Abdul Salman Khan (USD 10,000)

Retentions + Direct Signings: Dinesh Karthik, Sikandar Raza, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tim David, Johnson Charles, Tim Southee, Saurabh Netravalkar