Indian spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin could soon become the first high-profile Indian cricketer to play in the Big Bash League (BBL). Reports suggest that Cricket Australia (CA) is currently in discussions with Ashwin about featuring in the upcoming 2025/26 BBL season.
According to Cricbuzz, CA CEO Todd Greenberg is personally involved in talks with Ashwin regarding his participation. If finalized, this would be a landmark moment for both Ashwin and the BBL, as no active or recently-retired top-tier Indian player has ever featured in Australia’s premier T20 competition.
“Ravichandran Ashwin could be all set to become the first high-profile Indian cricketer to feature in the Big Bash League. And it could happen as early as the upcoming season,” Cricbuzz reported.
Ashwin recently retired from the Indian Premier League (IPL), which makes him eligible under BCCI’s rules to participate in foreign franchise tournaments.
- BCCI Restriction: Active Indian men’s players are not allowed to play in overseas T20 leagues.
- Post-Retirement Freedom: With his IPL retirement, Ashwin can now choose between leagues like the BBL and the ILT20 (UAE).
The BBL 2025/26 season begins on December 14, 2025, while the ILT20 kicks off on December 2, 2025. This means Ashwin would have to pick between the two tournaments, as both overlap during December and January.
