• Source:JND
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R Ashwin In ILT20: Former New Zealand cricketer and commentator at present, Simon Doull, has reflected upon reports suggesting that ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin pulling out of the ILT20 auction comes as a huge surprise to him. It was worth noting that Ashwin was considered a hot pick at the auction but went unsold.

Doull felt that Ashwin failed to read the room as he opted out of the auction at the last minute, which is precisely why no bids came for him. The idea behind getting Ashwin in ILT20 was to boost viewership in India.

“We are hearing that he may have pulled out of the auction, which is a massive surprise. I mean, you have got to read the room. You have got to understand what is going on out there and all that money left, when there are 3-4 teams with over $400,000 left in their pot," Doull said while speaking on the live auction broadcast on YouTube.

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“I don’t think they came here not wanting to spend money; it is there to be spent. If he pulled himself out, then he just has not read the room. I think sides would have gone in for him," Doull added.

Amid all these speculations, the 38-year-old is yet to clarify his side of the story regarding the ILT20 auction.

Ashwin announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League after he struggled through the IPL 2025 season with the Chennai Super Kings.

Before being snubbed in the ILT20, Ashwin signed with Sydney Thunder for the Big Bash League (BBL) season 15 last month. With the signing, the seasoned ball tweaker became the first cricketer who has played for the India men's cricket team to represent a BBL club.

The 39-year-old will enter Thunder's line-up in early January and ignite the club's push to play in back-to-back BBL finals, having lost to Hobart Hurricanes in the previous season.

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"Thunder was crystal clear about how they would use me and brave enough to back it. My conversations with the leadership were excellent, and we are fully aligned on my role. I love how David Warner (the Sydney Thunder captain) plays the game, and it is always better when your leader shares your mindset. I cannot wait to perform for the Thunder Nation," said the spin wizard in a statement by the club.

Inputs from Agency