Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin surprisingly went unsold at the International League T20 (ILT20) 2025 Auction Four Seasons Hotel in Dubai on Wednesday, October 1. Following retirement from the IPL, the 38-year-old began looking for opportunities in the overseas T20 leagues, freeing himself from the BCCI's contractual obligations, which bar contracted Indian cricketers from playing leagues outside India.

In August, Ashwin registered for his first overseas T20 league auction by submitting his name for the ILT20 2025 player pool, hoping franchises would bid for the experienced off-spinner. The Indian legend registered at a base price of $120,000, which is equivalent to approximately INR 1.6 crore, making him one of the high-profile players from India to be in the auction pool.

Ravichandran Ashwin has recently signed a deal with Sydney Thunder in the upcoming season of the Big Bash League, marking his first signing as an overseas player in Australia's premier T20 competition.

No buyers for R Ashwin in ILT20 2025 Auction

Ravichandran Ashwin was among the 300 players who were shortlisted and went under the hammer for the ILT20 2025 auction. Given his experience in international cricket and IPL, the veteran off-spinner was expected to find a buyer.

However, what surprised was that despite his vast experience and proven T20 credentials, no franchise was willing to bid for Ashwin, leaving him unsold in the first round of auction. The IPL franchises, including MI Emirates, Dubai Capitals, and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, chose to pass on the veteran cricketer, focusing on giving contracts to young, talented players.

The video of Ashwin going unsold at the auction went viral on social media, wherein no franchises raised the paddle to bid for the seasoned spinner. In the accelerated round, the former India off-spinner's name did not come up, leaving him still without a franchise.

Ravichandran Ashwin went unsold in the ILT20 twitter/dDCUZoirue

- HARSHIT (@I_am_Harshit_17) October 1, 2025

This was a big setback for the veteran off-spinner as it was his first-ever auction as an overseas player, as he had hoped to make a mark in the ILT20 before making his BBL debut with Sydney Thunder.

Fans' reaction to Ashwin going unsold at ILT20 Auction

Indian cricket fans were hoping for Ravinchandran Ashwin to find a buyer at the ILT20 auction, at least from the IPL franchises. However, fans were quite surprised by the lack of bids for the 38-year-old.

Taking to their X handle (formerly Twitter), fans expressed disbelief as the player of Ravichandran Ashwin's calibre was unable to find a buyer, who could have utilized his international experience and cricketing knowledge to strengthen their squad. Given his stellar career as one of India's most successful spinners, Ashwin was expected to attract multiple bids, making his unsold status a shocking outcome for cricket fans.

Ravichandran Ashwin goes unsold in ILT20 auction #ILT2026 #ilt20auction #ILT20 twitter/Pl0HAC1Cqk

- Shanu (@Shanu_3010) October 1, 2025

Ravichandran Ashwin UNSOLD at ILT20 Auction He Has Highest Base Price in This Auction . twitter/MkTTbVkYer

- Junaid Khan (@JunaidKhanation) October 1, 2025

Someone has done Ashwin dirty in #ILT20 must have convinced him to put his name in auction now his name didn't even come in accelerated round ( I was sure it would).Tbh I m not surprised,he didn't even deserve that price but it's really funny & tragic at same time. twitter/QmomhsCqS5

- Raazi (@Crick_logist) October 1, 2025

Shocking Ravichandran Ashwin goes unsold at the ILT20 Auction despite a ₹1.06 Cr base price. twitter/zpMlP9R73B

- Cricket Winner (@cricketwinner_) October 1, 2025

Unfortunate for Ashwin Anna. Promoting the ILT20 & then going unsold looks awkward, but let's be real he's still a legend of the game. One auction doesn't change that.

- Wild_Born (@Wildborn69) October 1, 2025

Ravichandran Ashwin unsold in ILT20 auction despite teams have lots of purse to remain.... Some franchise definitely backstabbed Ash anna

- MrK (@Mr____kdb) October 1, 2025

All six teams could still have bid for R Ashwin in the accelerated round but the senior off-spinner goes unsold at the first-ever #ILT20 auctionDid he pull his name away after he went unsold first time? Weren't teams interested in what he offered?Strange strange #Ilt20auction twitter/b4yg14Ku93

- Anshul Gupta (@oyegupta_) October 1, 2025

@BCCI got scared of @ashwinravi99 influencing teams not to buy Ashwin. Bcci acting as if they own players . Ashwin or indian stars playing anywhere is a threat to their money minting ipl @Vimalwa @rohitjuglan @ilt20

- sunil gaurav (@sunilgaurav1) October 1, 2025

ILT20 CEO won't let Ashwin to go UNSOLD There might be some other reason other than HIGH Base Price Wils@7 (@Thoughts7Sk) October 1, 2025

Shame on Indian owners of ILT20 teams to disrespect Ashwin SM (@mahajansid) October 1, 2025

No one purchased Ashwin bro in ilt20 auction feeling very bad for him

- Tripurari Chaudhary (@TipsChaudhary) October 1, 2025

Ashwin retired as the fifth leading wicket-taker of the IPL, with 187 wickets, including a four-wicket haul, at an average of 30.22 and an economy rate of 7.20 in 221 matches.

The veteran spinner is the third wicket-taker among Indian bowlers in T20 cricket, scalping 317 wickets, including 4 four-wicket hauls, at an average of 26.94 and an economy rate of 7.11 in 33 matches.

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