Delhi: India’s legendary off -spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will now be seen playing in Australia’s famous T20 League Big Bash League (BBL). Sydney Thunder has signed him for 2025-26 season. Ashwin has become the first big Indian star to play in BBL.

Ashwin associated with Sydney Thunder

Ashwin received offers from four different franchises, but he chose Sydney Thunder as the team’s strategy and communication found him clean. He said, “Thunder’s team showed complete clarity about my role from the beginning and I liked this very much. The conversation that I had with the team leadership was fantastic. We are all on the same thinking.”

He also said that playing under the captaincy of David Warner inspires him. “The experience of playing with a captain like David Warner will be different. I like his style of playing and I am excited to perform for Thunder Nation.”

Sydney Thunder General Manager Trent Copland also praised Ashwin, saying, “This is one of the biggest signing of BBL history. He is the first Indian veteran who will play in this league. When I did not even talk to him, he said that he said that he wants to quit positive impact on our spinners Tanmir Sanga and Chris Green.”

Ashwin has also named the ILT20 auction. If his team reaches the final of the LT20, then he will be able to play only three matches in BBL. However, if the situation remains different then they can also play more matches.

Ashwin has so far taken 317 wickets in a total of 333 T20 matches. His average has been 26.94 and he has also taken four wickets four times. He is the fifth most successful bowler in T20 for India.

Other Indians playing in BBL

Prior to Ashwin, India’s Under-19 World Cup winning captain Unmukt Chand (Melbourne Renegade) and domestic player Nikhil Chaudhary (Hobart Harikens) have become part of BBL. But Ashwin is the biggest Indian name to land in this league.