Ravichandran Ashwin Archives

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin ruled out of BBL 15

Veteran spin great Ravichandran Ashwin was ruled out of Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL 15) on Tuesday after undergoing knee surgery.

With this, he missed out on becoming the first Indian international to feature in the Twenty20 event.

The 39-year-old, who signed for Sydney Thunder in September, said in a statement: “I’m gutted to miss BBL.

“My focus now is recovery and coming back stronger. I’m grateful to the Thunder family and the fans for the warmth they’ve already shown me.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not allow any current player in Indian international or domestic cricket to feature in overseas leagues.

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But Ashwin retired in December during India’s Test tour of Australia and quit the Indian Premier League in August, freeing him up.

“Everyone at Sydney Thunder was devastated to learn of Ash’s knee injury that has ruled him out of BBL, and we wish him well in his recovery,” said Thunder general manager Trent Copeland.

Ashwin, who played for five IPL franchises, finished his India career with 537 wickets in 106 Tests at an average of 24.00.

He also played 116 one-day and 65 Twenty20 internationals.

The BBL gets under way on December 14.

READ: ICC suspends Haris Rauf for code of conduct breach

Ashwin Joins Shadab Khan at Sydney Thunder in BBL

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is set to link up with Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan at Sydney Thunder after sealing a two-season deal with the Big Bash League (BBL) franchise.

The move makes Ashwin the first capped Indian men’s cricketer to feature in the competition, marking a breakthrough moment in league history.

While Indian players have been a regular feature in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), BCCI restrictions have long prevented active men’s internationals from playing overseas franchise cricket.

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Ashwin’s retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this year cleared the path for overseas stints.

Several franchises pursued the veteran spinner for his maiden BBL stint. After discussions with Cricket Australia (CA) officials and multiple clubs, Ashwin chose Sydney Thunder, with general manager Trent Copeland leading the negotiations.

The Thunder, coached by Trevor Bayliss and captained by David Warner, finished as finalists last season.

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Ashwin’s addition strengthens their spin department at Engie Stadium, one of the most spin-friendly venues in the BBL.

He joins a squad that already includes overseas recruits Shadab Khan, Sam Billings, and Lockie Ferguson, alongside local spinners Chris Green, Tanveer Sangha, and Tom Andrews.

The off-spinner also secured a separate marketing agreement with Cricket Australia, ensuring his presence boosts both on-field competition and off-field promotion.

READ: Former captain urges recall of Babar, Rizwan Naseem to Pakistan T20I side

Ravichandran Ashwin likely to make historic BBL debut

Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is on the verge of creating history as the first capped Indian male cricketer to feature in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL).

Four franchises, the Sydney Thunder, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, and Adelaide Strikers, are reportedly in the race to secure his services for the latter stages of the upcoming season, with the Thunder and Hurricanes emerging as frontrunners.

A final decision is expected later this week.

Ashwin’s potential signing comes at a time when the BBL has also seen a surge of Pakistani talent, raising the possibility of an Indo-Pak reunion in Australia.

For India, Ashwin’s participation marks a historic moment. No internationally capped Indian male player has previously featured in the BBL, largely due to BCCI regulations that prohibit only retired cricketers from participating in overseas franchise leagues.

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Ashwin’s decision to step away from the IPL earlier this year has now opened the door for him to explore opportunities abroad.

In recent years, several former Indian stars have pursued similar paths. Dinesh Karthik appeared for Paarl Royals in the SA20, Ambati Rayudu played in the CPL and ILT20, while Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, and Suresh Raina have also represented franchises overseas.

Ravichandran Ashwin has already registered for the ILT20 auction in the UAE, set for next Tuesday.

If signed, he will feature in the tournament from December 2 to January 4. The BBL season runs from December 14 to January 25, leaving him available for three to four matches plus the finals should his team qualify.

READ: Pakistan set to depart for ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 today

‘Pycroft is not a schoolteacher’ Ashwin slams Pakistan over handshake row

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has hit out at Pakistan for targeting match referee Andy Pycroft in the aftermath of the much-debated handshake controversy during the Asia Cup 2025.

The issue erupted after India and Pakistan clashed in Dubai last week, their first meeting since cross-border tensions resurfaced in May.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) demanded Pycroft’s “immediate removal” after he instructed captain Salman Ali Agha to skip the customary handshake at the toss.

This sparked days of fallout, including Pakistan delaying their match against the UAE amid tense talks with the ICC.

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

The matter was only resolved once Pycroft met the team management, explained his position, and privately apologised.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin defended Pycroft and accused Pakistan of manufacturing unnecessary drama.

He argued that the referee had merely conveyed India’s stance to avoid an awkward on-field moment.

“Andy Pycroft actually saved everybody from seeing such a poor spectacle. India had informed the referee in advance that this was our decision, and we would stick to it. He simply passed on the message,” Ashwin explained.

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The veteran spinner stressed that Pycroft was unfairly made the scapegoat for a decision that lay solely with the Indian players and the BCCI.

“If no handshake was your problem with India, why were you looking for an answer to that problem in the UAE game? Why did you make Andy Pycroft the scapegoat? He has done nothing wrong,” Ashwin said.

“He is not a schoolteacher or a principal who can drag players together and make them shake hands. That’s not his job. What exactly is Pycroft’s fault here?” he added.

Ashwin concluded by underlining that the Indian players had been clear about their position from the outset, and the matter should have ended there rather than spiralling into controversy.

READ: Litton Das overtakes Shakib Al Hasan’s T20I record in Sri Lanka victory

Ravichandran Ashwin names Pakistan’s potential game-changer against India

Former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted several Pakistan players who could change the course of the match against India, particularly mentioning Sufiyan Muqeem as a potential hero in the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 clash.

Sharing his views regarding the blockbuster clash on his YouTube channel, Ashwin expressed his excitement to watch Pakistan batters Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub.

“From Pakistan’s side, the two players I’m most excited to watch are Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub. I want to see how they handle the Indian bowling attack. If both of them bat well, then Pakistan will have a decent chance,” Ashwin said.

The 38-year-old heaped praise on left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem as a game-changer for Pakistan, highlighting his potential.

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“As for an hero from Pakistan, it could be Sufiyan Muqeem. He didn’t bowl that well in the last game and he’s a bit inconsistent, which makes things tricky in T20 cricket. But I’m curious to see how Pakistan grooms him and how he approaches the game, so I’ll be watching closely to see how he performs,” he said.

For context, Pakistan and India are set to face each other for the first time since the escalated tensions in May.

India and Pakistan have both started their Asia Cup 2025 in a dominant way, with the former beating UAE by a hefty margin of nine wickets, whereas the latter crushed Oman by 93 runs to set up an intriguing showdown between them.

Pakistan squad: Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.

India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.

READ: Pakistan players to watch out in Asia Cup 2025 clash against India

Former spinner looking forward to Abrar vs Indian batters

Former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed his excitement over the prospect of Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed going up against India’s batting line-up in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 clash.

The two arch-rivals meet on September 14 in Dubai in what promises to be the most anticipated fixture of the tournament.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin praised Abrar’s skillset but cautioned that he will face a major test against India’s in-form batters.

“I am definitely looking forward to the contest between Abrar Ahmed and our Indian team,” he said.

“In modern-day cricket, it’s difficult to bowl as slowly as he does, but recently, Abrar produced a match-winning performance by picking up four wickets against the UAE. He bowls googlies, carrom balls, and other variations.

“Still, he must find a way to succeed against India.

“Another challenge is that Pakistani players don’t get the opportunity to play against Indians, as they are not part of the IPL. For Abrar, this will be a learning curve, but he has all the tools required.”

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Ravichandran Ashwin also highlighted Sahibzada Farhan’s fearless approach at the top of the order, likening him to India’s Abhishek Sharma.

“Pakistan has exceptional talent. One such player is Sahibzada Farhan, who plays in a style similar to Abhishek Sharma, attacking bowlers right from the start,” he noted.

“With Mike Hesson now in charge and Salman Ali Agha leading as captain, Pakistan is clearly trying to embrace a more explosive brand of cricket.”

He pointed out that the side’s new model leans heavily on aggressive batters such as Fakhar Zaman, Haris, and Saim Ayub.

“Personally, I believe Fakhar is the best batter in the Pakistan side. Then there’s Saim Ayub, who also contributes with the ball,” he added.

“But the team often collapses after strong starts, sometimes finding themselves 80 for 5 before scrambling to 140. To really challenge India, you need at least 180.”

Looking at the bigger picture, the veteran off-spinner was blunt about India’s prospects.

“The best-case scenario for any team is to bowl first and restrict India to a modest score. But honestly, I don’t think any side really stands a chance against India in this Asia Cup,” he concluded.

READ: India rewrite record books with crushing victory over UAE

Ravichandran Ashwin announces retirement from IPL

Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old offspinner took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to pen a note bidding farewell to the cash-rich league.

“Special day and hence a special beginning,” he wrote. “They say every ending will have a new start, my time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today.”

In his note, Ashwin hinted at playing franchise cricket globally, stating, “My journey as an explorer of the game in various leagues begins today.”

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He also expressed gratitude to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and IPL franchises for the opportunities, mentioning that he created wonderful memories during his time in the marquee league.

“Would like to thank all the franchisees for all the wonderful memories and relationships over the years, and most importantly, the @IPL and the @BCCI for what they have given me until now,” Ravichandran Ashwin added.

“Look forward to enjoying and making the most of what’s ahead of me.”

Since his debut in 2009, he has represented several teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), including Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, and Rising Pune Supergiants.

Over the course of 220 matches, he took 187 wickets and scored 833 runs.

He leaves the IPL as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament’s history, having participated in 16 of the 18 IPL seasons.

READ: Wasim Akram predicts winner of India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash

Ravichandran Ashwin opens up on sudden retirement from international cricket

Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has finally opened up about the reasons behind his sudden retirement from international cricket.

Ashwin shocked the cricket fans across the globe when he announced his retirement in December 2024, midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

He announced his decision during the post-match press conference after the rain-affected third Test in Brisbane, which concluded in a draw.

Recently, in a YouTube podcast, he revealed that the thought of retirement had been lingering in his mind for some time. Still, the lack of playing opportunities during the away series eventually prompted him to step aside.

“I think it was just the time, and where I stood in my life, right? I must admit, I think I was quite old,” he said.

“But going on tours, and having to just sit out a lot more, eventually got to me.

“Not in terms of not wanting to contribute to the team, but you’re thinking, ‘Would I rather be at home, spending time with my children?’ They are also growing up, and what am I actually doing?”

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Ravichandran Ashwin further revealed that he had initially planned to retire much earlier.

“In my head, I always decided that I would retire at 34-35,” he admitted, but he went on to extend his career until 38.

It’s worth noting that Ashwin has only retired from international cricket, and he continues to feature in the IPL, representing Chennai Super Kings.

In IPL 2025, he turned out in nine games, picking seven wickets at an average of 40.43 with an economy rate of 9.13.

He has been one of the IPL’s consistent performers, with 187 wickets and 833 runs across 221 matches.

Bought back by CSK in 2024 for INR 9.75 crore, the move marked a homecoming after nearly a decade away.

He had represented Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Rajasthan Royals during his time away from the franchise before reuniting with MS Dhoni’s side, where he first made his IPL breakthrough between 2008 and 2015.

READ: Shaheen Afridi comments on Babar, Rizwan’s exclusion from Pakistan T20I squad

Ravichandran Ashwin reflects on Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli’s Test retirement

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his thoughts on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Test retirement, calling it the beginning of the Gautam Gambhir era.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin expressed surprise that both players retired in a short span of time. He said that it would be a challenging time for Indian cricket.

“I didn’t have an idea both [Rohit and Kohli] would retire together,” Ashwin said. “This will be a testing time for Indian cricket, and I’ll say this is truly now the beginning of the Gautam Gambhir era, he added.

Ravichandran Ashwin expressed confidence in fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s leadership potential while stressing the pacer’s fitness.

“The team that will tour England will be a completely new team, a transformed team where Bumrah will probably be the senior-most player.

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“He is obviously one of the captaincy options; I think he deserves the captaincy, but the selectors will take a decision based on his physical capacity,” Ravichandran Ashwin remarked.

India is heading to England for a five-match Test series, and Ashwin stated that sudden retirements would certainly create a leadership vacuum.

“Their retirements will definitely create a leadership vacuum. You can’t buy experience, especially on tours like this. Virat’s energy and Rohit’s composure will be missed,” said Ashwin.

For the unversed, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirements from Test cricket in a short time.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who had earlier stepped away from T20Is after leading India to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 title, announced their decisions through an Instagram story.

The sudden retirements left India in a selection dilemma ahead of the five-match series in England, which kicks off at Headingley on June 20.

READ: PCB reveals schedule for remaining PSL 10 matches

Ashwin names THIS player to surpass Babar, Rizwan as Pakistan’s best batter

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has heaped high praise on Pakistan vice-captain Salman Ali Agha ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin highlighted Salman Ali Agha and Tayyab Tahir as key players to watch in the tournament.

“I am very excited about two players: Tayyab Tahir and Agha Salman. Actually, Agha Salman should be mentioned first—what a player he is,” Ashwin remarked

“He has quality, he can handle pressure situations, and he has a presence at the crease that I haven’t seen in a Pakistani player for a long time.”

Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t hold back in his praise for Salman, even making a bold comparison statement that he can surpass even Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the future.

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“And I mean it—he has that presence. I just hope he doesn’t follow the path of some other players,” he added.

“If he continues playing like this, he could become a poster boy for Pakistan cricket. I genuinely believe Agha Salman has the ability to surpass even Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.”

The 38-year-old also spoke highly of Tayyab Tahir, calling him an “exceptional middle-order player” and emphasizing that Pakistan has found a solid option in that role after a long time.

“Tayyab Tahir is an exceptional middle-order player. Pakistan has found one after a long time,” he stated.

For the unversed, the defending champions and hosts Pakistan will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a game against New Zealand on February 19.

They will then travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23. Pakistan will then return home to face Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.

Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

READ: ‘Our belief is same’ Babar Azam issues bold statement ahead of Champions Trophy