Former CSK Player Owns Half Of Kent, Still Down To Earth: Ashwin

Former India spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has made a revelation about England cricketer Sam Billings, saying the wicketkeeper-batter “owns half of Kent” but remains surprisingly humble despite his privileged background.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, “Sam Billings is not a normal guy. He owns almost half of Kent. We keep cooks and maids in our houses, but in those countries, to have a chef is a huge deal. His house has separate people for housekeeping, laundry, etc. He comes from that background, but a really, really simple guy.”

Billings, 34, has featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Delhi Capitals (DC), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), but never truly made a mark. Across 30 games, he scored 503 runs at an average of 19.34 and a strike rate of 129.63, with his last appearance coming in 2022.

Reflecting on Billings’ IPL journey, Ashwin added: “A player like Sam Billings is a hit in other formats; he has even performed very well in the ILT20. I remember he performed well for CSK for a few games but couldn’t sustain that performance. So, he was out of the team.

"There is a lot of pressure on these foreign players. Because if four foreign players are allowed in a team, you will have to perform. If you don’t perform in two to three games, you will be out of the team.”

While his IPL stint was underwhelming, Billings has found greater success elsewhere. He has played three Tests, 28 ODIs, and 37 T20Is for England, and more recently led Oval Invincibles to a third consecutive title in The Hundred. In 2025, he also guided Dubai Capitals to victory in the ILT20.