The recently concluded ILT20 auction stunned the cricket fraternity after ace India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin went unsold.
Ashwin, India’s second-highest wicket-taker in international cricket, entered the auction with a record base price of USD 120,000. Given his reputation, it was expected that Ashwin would attract the bidding war between the franchises, potentially breaking records in the league’s first-ever auction in four seasons. But the 39-year-old did not see any bids coming for him in the first round, leaving fans and experts in shock despite his proven track record with both bat and ball.
The off-spinner’s record in domestic T20 leagues, tactical acumen, coupled with his leadership qualities make him a valuable asset for any team in T20 cricket. Yet, despite his credentials, the 39-year-old found himself overlooked in the International League T20. During the live auction broadcast on YouTube, former New Zealand player Simon Doull speculated that Ashwin might have voluntarily pulled out after being ignored in the first round. However, the official is not confirmed, Doull noted that if true, the decision would is surprising.
“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 commented.
Doull further noted that such a move could prove short-sighted, given that several franchises still had large money left in their purse ahead of the accelerated round, where the teams could have shown interest in signing him in later rounds.
“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,” he said.
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Another potential explanation could be the clash between ILT20 and the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025. A week ahead of the ILT20 auction, Ashwin signed a deal with Sydney Thunder for the upcoming BBL season. Both tournaments are set to run in parallel to each other for the most part. The BBL 2025 tournament will start from December 14 to January 25, while the ILT20 is scheduled to start from December 2, with the all-important final slated for January 26, making it impossible for him to commit to both. Albeit, there’s a possibility that he can still feature in the upcoming season as a wildcard, as two franchises, MI Emirates and Desert Vipers, are yet to complete their wildcard signings.
At 39, the workload management and physical toll of featuring in two tournaments running in parallel, under relatively different conditions, could have influenced his decision. Prioritizing the BBL, especially with its stronger visibility and competitiveness, may have been a strategic choice to preserve his form and fitness; however, the pitches in the UAE would have offered more assistance to a spinner of Ashwin’s quality compared to those in Australia.
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