Ex-India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has broken a long-standing barrier by signing with Sydney Thunder, becoming the first Indian male player to join Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) on Thursday.
His contract follows his retirement from international cricket in December and finishing his Indian Premier League career last month, releasing him from the Indian board’s exclusivity that prevents male players from playing in global franchise leagues.
While Indian women have played the women’s version of the BBL, the BCCI has never granted a place in overseas T20 tournaments to its male counterparts, so 39-year-old Ashwin’s signing with Thunder is a milestone event.
“The Thunder Nation will be embracing the largest overseas signing ever in the League’s history when Ashwin, the first male India representative to play overseas, becomes a member of a BBL club,” the team stated.
“Ashwin will come into Thunder’s side early in January and spark the club’s quest to compete in consecutive BBL Finals.”
The cunning off-spinner won’t be joining Thunder’s cause straight away when the BBL campaign begins in December, though, with him signing up for the International League T20 competition.
Ashwin signed up for the tournament, which is to be conducted in the United Arab Emirates from December 2 to January 4.
Ashwin makes history as first Indian player to be part of Big Bash League
“Thunder were crystal clear about how they’d use me and brave enough to back it. My conversations with the leadership were excellent, and we’re fully aligned on my role,” Ashwin said.
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“I love the way (Thunder captain) Dave Warner goes about his business, and it is always easier when your captain thinks the same as you,” he said of the ex-Australia opener. “Can’t wait to play for the Thunder Nation.”
Ashwin hung up his boots from test cricket with 765 international wickets across all formats, of which 537 were in tests. He was the IPL’s fifth-leading wicket-taker with 187 wickets in 221 games.
