ILT20 Auction | Ravichandran Ashwin seeks entry to first overseas league with highest base price

‌Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has entered the International League T20’s (ILT20) auction fray with the highest base price. The ILT20 will conduct its inaugural auction in Dubai on October 1, ahead of its fourth season set to start in December.

Ashwin retired from international cricket during the Australian tour in December 2024 and has recently announced his exit from the Indian Premier League as well. The Tamil Nadu spinner has quoted a base price of USD 120,000 for his entry in the ILT20, and if selected, will play his first overseas franchise league. 

He has been a constant figure in the T20 format for both India and in the IPL since making his debut with the Chennai Super Kings in the 2009 season. The veteran spinner has picked up 317 wickets from 329 innings in T20s at an average of 26.94 and a strike rate of 22.7, along with an impressive economy of 7.11.

The 39-year-old Ashwin is one among 24 Indians in the auction list, which will be finalised after ILT20 receives the wishlist from the franchises. The teams had carried out their retentions and direct signings earlier in July, with each side allowed to spend up to USD 1.2 million. The unused balance will then be added to the auction purse of USD 800000, with the teams required to spend a minimum of USD 1.5 million in total.

Ashwin has also registered his interest in playing the Big Bash League this season, with four teams hotly pursuing him to get his signature. However, the veteran spinner will not feature in the initial half of the BBL as the fourth edition of the ILT20 will run from December 2 to January 4.