Ravichandran Ashwin went unsold in the ILT20 auction. He entered the inaugural ILT20 player auction as the only cricketer with a six-figure base price set at USD 120,000, the highest price in the auction after retiring from IPL and international cricket. Despite his credentials and experience as a player, Ashwin went unsold at the auction, which shocked the cricketing world.
Ashwin’s ILT20 auction story ended with him remaining unsold, but he committed to playing the BBL and the Hong Kong Sixes tournament later in the year.
Ashwin agreed to feature in at least three games during the latter part of the season for the Sydney Thunder. Later, he announced the complete availability for the entire BBL 2025/26 edition.
Ashwin Statement After Signing Sydney Thunder
During an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Ashwin said, “I had agreed verbally with ILT20, but then the franchise offers were pretty low because the direct signings had been closed by all teams.
Meanwhile, Thunder came with a good deal, but since I had verbally agreed with ILT20, I entered the auction saying this is the minimum price I want to play for, else I am happy going to the BBL.”
Speaking about his engagement with Sydney Thunder, Ashwin mentioned that the franchise was clear about his role and showed the bravery to back him fully. This alignment with the team leadership, particularly with David Warner, gave Ashwin the confidence to make meaningful contributions. He expressed enthusiasm about performing for the “Thunder Nation,” signalling his readiness to embrace the Australian T20 league environment.
Cricket Australia CEO Statement For Ashwin
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg congratulated him while welcoming to the Australian league, “It’s a big moment for the BBL to welcome Ravi here. I have been talking to him personally on a number of occasions.
“I have found him a breath of fresh air, I think our fans are going to really enjoy watching him play and engaging with him when he’s here for the BBL,” he added.
Sydney Thunder Achievements
Sydney Thunder became the BBL champion in the 2025/16 season and ended its 2024/25 campaign as a runner-up.
| Achievement Category | Details |
|---|---|
| BBL Championships Won | 1 (2015-16 season) |
| Matches Played | 156 |
| Matches Won | 64 |
| Win Percentage | 41.02% |
| Highest Team Score | 232/5 (20 overs) vs Sydney Sixers, January 2021 |
| Highest Successful Chase | 183/8 (19.4 overs) vs Adelaide Strikers, December 2024 |
| Lowest Total Defended | 135/7 (19 overs) vs Melbourne Stars, January 2025 |
| Largest Victory Margin | Batting first: 129 runs vs Melbourne Renegades (Dec 2020 & Jan 2022) Batting second: won with 60 balls remaining vs Sydney Sixers, January 2017 |
| Longest Winning Streak | 6 matches (Dec 2021 – Jan 2022) |
| Most Runs by a Player | Alex Hales – 2,005 runs |
| Most Wickets by a Player | Daniel Sams – 109 wickets |
| Hat-tricks Taken | Gurinder Sandhu vs Perth Scorchers, January 2022 |
| Player of the Match Awards | Alex Hales (9) |
| Home Ground | Sydney Showground Stadium, Sydney |
| Notable Records | Set record for lowest completed innings of 15 runs in men’s professional T20 (2022-23 season) |
Schedule Of Sydney Thunder In BBL 2025/26
The 2025/26 Big Bash League season starts on December 14, 2025, and goes until January 25, 2026. Ashwin is expected to make his first appearance for the Sydney Thunder on December 16 against the Hobart Hurricanes at Bellerive Oval.
As the Sydney Thunder CEO said, Ashwin would add strength to the team’s bowling with his skillful variations, control, and T20 experience. His ability to bowl economically and take crucial wickets could be key to Sydney Thunder’s success in trying to win the championship.
Here are the BBL 2025/26 matches Ashwin will play during the group stage.
| Date | Match No. | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 16, Tuesday | 3rd Match | Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 07:15 PM |
| December 20, Saturday | 7th Match | Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers | Sydney Showground Stadium, Sydney | 07:15 PM |
| December 22, Monday | 9th Match | Sydney Thunder vs Brisbane Heat | Manuka Oval, Canberra | 07:15 PM |
| December 28, Sunday | 14th Match | Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder | Manuka Oval, Canberra | 07:15 PM |
| December 30, Tuesday | 16th Match | Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers | Sydney Showground Stadium, Sydney | 07:15 PM |
| January 03, Saturday | 21st Match | Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes | Sydney Showground Stadium, Sydney | 07:15 PM |
| January 06, Tuesday | 25th Match | Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 06:45 PM |
| January 10, Saturday | 29th Match | Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder | The Gabba, Brisbane | 03:00 PM |
| January 12, Monday | 33rd Match | Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades | Sydney Showground Stadium, Sydney | 07:15 PM |
| January 16, Friday | 37th Match | Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 07:15 PM |
Sydney Thunder Squad For BBL 2025/26
Ravi Ahswin’s inclusion made the Sydney Thunder a team to defeat. David Warner, Lockie Ferguson, Chris Green, and Daniel Sams will play with him.
Ravichandran Ashwin, David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings, Ollie Davies, Lockie Ferguson, Matthew Gilkes, Wes Agar, Tom Andrews, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Shadab Khan, Sam Konstas, Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Daniel Sams, and Tanveer Sangha.
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Conclusion: Ravichandran Ashwin Joined The Sydney Thunder
Ravichandran Ashwin joined the Sydney Thunder to start a new chapter in his cricket career. After going unsold in the ILT20 auction, he is available for the BBL 2025/26 season to provide his experience, spin variations, and leadership qualities.
With players like David Warner and Daniel Sams alongside him, the Ashwin BBL Team looks stronger than ever. Fans are eagerly waiting to see how Ashwin’s presence will impact the Sydney Thunder’s chances to clinch their 2nd title of the tournament.
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