Ravichandran Ashwin is reportedly expected to pull double-duty this season, with the former India spinner likely to feature in both the ILT20 in the UAE and Australia’s Big Bash League, despite overlapping schedules.
According to a report by Cricbuzz, Ashwin has already registered for the ILT20 auction, scheduled for October 1. At the same time, multiple Australian franchises have shown interest in signing him for the Big Bash League. Teams reportedly in the mix include the Sydney Thunder, Sydney Sixers, Ricky Ponting’s Hobart Hurricanes, and Tim Paine’s Adelaide Strikers.
It remains to be seen whether Ashwin will participate fully in both leagues or prioritise one over the other due to the overlapping schedules. The ILT20 is expected to begin on December 2, later this year, while the Big Bash League starts on December 14 and continues through January 25 of the following year.
Despite the scheduling overlap, the expectation is that he will feature in both leagues, marking a significant new chapter in his career following his retirement from international cricket during India’s recent Test tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Before both tournaments, however, Ashwin is expected to represent India at the Hong Kong Sixes scheduled from November 7 to 9. Indian players are only allowed to participate in overseas franchise leagues after retiring from all forms of cricket in India, which now makes Ashwin eligible.
Ashwin has previously expressed interest in playing franchise cricket abroad. While few Indian retirees have made this transition, notable examples include Dinesh Karthik, who played for the Paarl Royals in the SA20, and Pravin Tambe, who featured across the IPL and Caribbean Premier League. Ashwin’s involvement in both the ILT20 and Big Bash could encourage more retired Indian cricketers to explore global T20 opportunities.
Fans can look forward to seeing Ashwin apply his experience, tactical intelligence, and guile in two of the world’s most competitive T20 leagues. His ability to challenge top batsmen across different conditions is expected to make him a game-changer for whichever franchises he ultimately joins, while further extending his impact on the global T20 circuit beyond international cricket.
