Can Ashwin still feature in upcoming ILT20 despite going unsold?
**Can Ashwin Still Feature in Upcoming ILT20 Despite Going Unsold?**
*By Gaurav Tripathi | Oct 02, 2025, 10:05 AM*
Indian spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin went unsold in the inaugural International League T20 (ILT20) auction for the 2025-26 season held on October 1. The 39-year-old entered the auction with a base price of $120,000 (approximately ₹99 lakh), but surprisingly, no franchise showed interest in acquiring him.
### Auction Insights and Speculations
Former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull expressed surprise over Ashwin’s unsold status, speculating that the player might have withdrawn his name from contention. Doull remarked, “You’ve got to read the room,” pointing out that several teams still had over $400,000 left in their budget, indicating ample funds to spend. He suggested that had Ashwin remained fully available, teams would likely have shown interest given his pedigree and experience.
### Can Ashwin Still Join ILT20 Teams?
Despite going unsold at the auction, Ashwin’s chances of playing in the ILT20 2025-26 season are not entirely ruled out. Some franchises, including MI Emirates and Desert Vipers, are yet to finalize their full squad picks and could potentially bring him in as a wildcard entry.
Meanwhile, Ashwin has already secured a contract with Sydney Thunder for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season in Australia. The ILT20 is scheduled from December 2 to January 4, while the BBL will run from December 14 to January 25, indicating an overlap but also possible participation in both leagues.
### Career Transition and Current Status
Earlier this year, Ashwin announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket, including the IPL. Following this, he made himself available for overseas T20 leagues as a free agent. The spin-bowling all-rounder remains one of India’s most successful bowlers, being the second-highest wicket-taker for India in international cricket after Anil Kumble.
### Ashwin’s Impressive T20 Career Stats
– **Overall T20:** 317 wickets at an average of 26.94 across 333 matches.
– **For India:** 65 matches, 23 wickets at an average of 23.22.
– **IPL Career:** 221 matches, 187 wickets at an average of 30.22, including four five-wicket hauls with best bowling figures of 4/34.
Ashwin holds the fifth-most wickets in IPL history, trailing behind Yuzvendra Chahal (221), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (198), Sunil Narine (192), and Piyush Chawla (192).
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With his vast experience and consistent performances, Ashwin remains a valuable asset in T20 leagues around the world. Whether he will feature in the upcoming ILT20 season as a wildcard signing is a development fans and franchises alike will be watching closely.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/r-ashwin-went-unsold-at-ilt20-auction/story
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