When news broke about Ravichandran Ashwin in ILT20 auction going unsold, cricket fans worldwide did a double-take. The veteran Indian spinner, a true legend of the game, was surprisingly left without a bid during the ILT20 2025-26 auction, despite entering with the highest base price. How did it come to this? Let’s have a proper natter about it.

Ashwin’s Overseas Journey Begins This Summer

Ashwin’s journey beyond India’s shores has been an intriguing one. After calling time on his IPL career in August 2025, and international cricket the previous year, he suddenly became a free agent in the global T20 marketplace. Retiring from IPL cricket allowed him to bypass the usual BCCI restrictions that prevent active Indian players from joining foreign leagues.

Life comes in a full circle ♾️💛
The journey that began as a Super King, ends as a Super King.
Forever a lion, forever one of us! 🦁✨
Thank you for the Yellovely memories, Ash! #ThankYouAsh #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/kmfC0FVgwF

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) August 27, 2025

So, what’s next? Well, the off-spinner didn’t hang up his boots entirely. Instead, he ventured overseas, signing with Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the 2025-26 season, a groundbreaking move for an Indian cricketer. The BBL deal brought new excitement to his career, giving Ashwin a fresh stage to showcase his skills, albeit far from the IPL frenzy he once knew so well.

Why Did Ashwin Go Unsold in the ILT20 Auction?

Now, onto the million-dollar question: why did such a decorated player end up among the unsold players in ILT20? Several factors seem to be at play here. Firstly, Ashwin’s base price of $120,000 was the highest in the auction, which may have put off franchises looking to balance budgets carefully. Some insiders speculate that Ashwin might have pulled out at the last minute, signalling that he wasn’t fully committed to the auction process. If true, that’s a classic case of “not reading the room,” as cricket analyst Simon Doull put it during the live auction broadcast.

Ravichandran Ashwin has gone unsold at the inaugural ILT20 Auction

He had set his base price at highest bracket of USD 120,000#ILT20 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/VTj5TnmyUE

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) October 1, 2025

Moreover, the ILT20 franchises are still evolving their squads, and with plenty of players on the market, teams may have preferred younger or more versatile options. The auction was also the first of its kind for ILT20, which could have introduced an element of unpredictability, with teams playing it safe.

Ravichandran Ashwin UNSOLD at ILT20 Auction 😭 He Has Highest Base Price in This Auction . pic.twitter.com/MkTTbVkYer

— Junaid Khan (@JunaidKhanation) October 1, 2025

Interestingly, Ashwin wasn’t alone in this predicament. Other notable names, including England’s James Anderson and Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir, also found themselves without bids. This suggests the market was perhaps a bit cautious or tactical.

Is There Still Hope for Ashwin in ILT20?

Before you start thinking this is the end of the road for Ravichandran Ashwin in ILT20 auction, hold your horses! The story doesn’t stop here. Despite the initial disappointment, Ashwin can still make an appearance in ILT20 thanks to a ‘wildcard’ rule, which allows teams to sign players outside the auction. As it stands, only two franchises: MI Emirates and Desert Vipers have yet to use this option.

With Ravichandran Ashwin and Jason Roy going unsold at ILT20 Auction after the first round, here are some glimpses from the glittering auction.@ThumsUpOfficial @Nambood1riAshok #ILT20Auction pic.twitter.com/wE1Pc3Ey9n

— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) October 1, 2025

That said, there are a couple of hurdles in the ILT20 2025-26 auction now. MI Emirates already has a full squad, meaning they’d need to drop a player to make room for Ashwin. Desert Vipers, on the other hand, have vacancies but their roster is heavily stacked with Pakistani stars like Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah, which might complicate things given the political sensitivities. Adding to that, Ashwin’s plans weren’t just to play but also to take on a mentoring role, leveraging his vast experience to guide younger players, a win-win if a franchise chooses to invest in that kind of leadership.

Wrapping Up：Ashwin’s Cricketing Odyssey Continues

So, to sum up, Ravichandran Ashwin in ILT20 auction may have been a surprise story for cricket fans, but it’s far from a dead end. With his career now firmly in the global T20 arena and a BBL stint lined up, Ashwin is embracing new challenges after IPL retirement.

Related Article：Big Bash Just Got Bigger：Ravichandran Ashwin in BBL is Official

🚨 BBL UPDATE ON RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN 🚨

Exclusive – Sydney Thunder has reached out Ashwin for his availability for full season in Big Bash. pic.twitter.com/xfVfLXuuvT

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 2, 2025

The ILT20 2025-26 auction was an unexpected twist, with Ashwin joining the list of unsold players in ILT20 for now. But thanks to the wildcard rule and the ever-changing nature of franchise cricket, there’s still a chance we’ll see him donning the ILT20 colours soon enough. Until then, cricket followers can look forward to Ashwin’s upcoming performances in Australia and beyond, a true cricketing journeyman adapting and thriving in the post-IPL world.