India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin raised eyebrows on Wednesday when he went unsold in the ILT20 2025 auction. Against all expectations, the 39-year-old spin legend went unsold after being placed in the highest base price bracket at $120,000, while his former India teammates Dinesh Karthik and Piyush Chawla were roped in by Sharjah Warriorz and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, respectively.
While Ashwin’s snub in the auction pool was speculated to be a factor of the high base price and the conflicting dates of the tournament with the Big Bash League in Australia, where he is slated to represent the Sydney Thunder later in the year, it was also revealed that the Tamil Nadu veteran may have pulled himself out from the race in the last minute.
READ | Ravichandran Ashwin finds no buyers in ILT20 Auction, goes unsold
Doull questions Ashwin’s ‘pull-out’ decision
Questioning Ashwin’s rumoured decision to have pulled the plug on his auction representation shortly before he went unsold in the auction, former New Zealand pacer and commentator Simon Doull said the India all-rounder failed to read the room.
“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 said on commentary.
Doull insisted that Ashwin failed to understand the dynamics of the auction, where several teams could have been in contention to pick the wily spinner for his services this season.
“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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BBL reason for ILT20 snub?
After retiring from the IPL in August, Ashwin was highly sought after and expected to be selected in the ILT20 auction (where three teams were IPL-owned). His IPL retirement opened the door for him to participate in various global T20 leagues. Following this, The Daily Telegraph reported that Ashwin is reportedly “eager to play in next season’s Hundred tournament.”
Ashwin is all set to become the first high-profile Indian man to appear in the BBL later this year. “Thunder were crystal clear about how they’d use me and brave enough to back it,” Ashwin said in a statement. “My conversations with the leadership were excellent, and we’re fully aligned on my role. I love how Dave Warner plays the game, and it’s always better when your leader shares your mindset. I can’t wait to perform for the Thunder Nation.”
Additionally, Ashwin is set to turn up for Team India in the Hong Kong Sixes tournament in November.