R Ashwin registers for ILT20 auction with the highest base price for any player

Published - 23 Sept 2025, 15:37 IST | Updated - 23 Sept 2025, 16:04 IST

The legendary Ravichandran Ashwin retired from international cricket in December. Last month, he drew the curtains down on his Indian Premier League (IPL) career. However, he had expressed his interest in playing franchise leagues around the world.

Ashwin could be on the verge of signing his first contract with an overseas T20 franchise, as he has entered the upcoming ILT20 (International League T20) auction with a base price of USD 120,000 (approximately INR 1.06 crore). He has the highest base price among all the players entering the ILT20 Auction 2025. The iconic off-spinner is the only player in the ILT20 auction longlist with a base price in six figures.

The 39-year-old Ashwin is among 24 Indian players who are on the longlist, which has almost 800 players as of now. A final list will be prepared this week once the ILT20 receives the wishlist from each franchise.

The fourth edition of ILT20, comprising six teams, will be played between December 2 and January 4. The auction will be held in Dubai on October 1. Ashwin has listed full availability for the tournament, after which he is likely to head to the BBL, where four teams are understood to have expressed interest in acquiring his services for the latter half of the season.

Ashwin is India's second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. He had picked up 537 wickets in 106 Tests. The experienced campaigner finished his ODI career with 156 wickets in 116 matches. Meanwhile, in 65 T20Is, he accounted for 72 wickets. In the IPL, he took 187 wickets from 220 matches.

Karthik named captain of India for Hong Kong Sixes 2025

Ashwin is also a handy batter who has six centuries in Test cricket. He has one half-century in ODIs and the IPL each. Cricket enthusiasts in the United Arab Emirates will be eager to witness Ashwin showcasing his brilliance in the forthcoming edition of the ILT20. The UAE players will also get the opportunity to learn more about the game by picking his brains.