- By Himanshu Badola
- Tue, 04 Nov 2025 03:41 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
R Ashwin ruled out of BBL: Ravichandran Ashwin, India's legendary spinner, has been ruled out of the upcoming Big Bash League season and Hong Kong Sixes tournament. Ashwin was set to make his maiden BBL outing, representing Sydney Thunder, but now wishes the team luck for the season.
Ashwin confirmed that he suffered a knee injury, which would prevent him from travelling to Australia and participating in the popular T20 league. Notably, the Sydney Thunder roped in Ashwin for a full season as he was slated to become the first Indian male cricketer to play the Australian tournament. The franchise, however, will be mentioning Ashwin closely, hoping Ashwin can participate in the later stages of the tournament if he recovers from the knee injury early.
"I wanted to write this myself. While training in Chennai to prepare for the upcoming season, I hurt my knee. I've had a procedure, and the outcome means I will miss BBLI15. That is tough to say. I was genuinely excited to be part of this group and play in front of you," Ashwin said in a statement shared on Instagram. "For now, it is rehab, recovery, and doing the work to come back stronger. From my first chat with the club, I have felt only warmth from Trent, the staff, the players, and so many of you who have already reached out. Thank you for making me feel at home before a ball has been bowled," he added.
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Notably, Ashwin announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), stating that he would now represent different teams across various leagues. The 39-year-old was then picked up by Thunder in the BBL, and David Warner was credited for having a conversation with Ashwin and bringing him on board. However, Ashwin promised the fans of the Sydney Thunder that he would be watching each and every game in the upcoming BBL and cheer for the franchise.
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"I will be watching every game and cheering for both our women's and men's teams. If rehab and travel line up, and only if the doctors are happy, I would love to be around later in the season and say hello in person. No promises. That is the intent," said Ashwin.
'Please keep packing ENGIE Stadium and keep the noise up. Your support matters more than you know. Thank you for the love. Wishing both Thunder teams a big year," he added.
Ashwin will not be available for the upcoming edition of Hong Sixes as well. Former India batter Robin Uthappa will replace Ashwin in the India squad for the competition. "I’m really disappointed to miss out on the Hong Kong Sixes this year due to injury. I was looking forward to experiencing the tournament’s unique format and energy. I wish the Indian team all the very best. I’m sure the boys will put on a great show and hopefully lift the trophy," said Ashwin in an official release.
Notably, Ashwin retired from international cricket in December 2024, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker for India across all formats. He claimed 765 international wickets in 287 appearances for India. The spinner represented five different teams in the IPL in his 221-game career – Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiants, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
He won the tournament twice with CSK, in 2010 and 2011. He played just nine matches for the five-time champions in 2025 after being picked up by MS Dhoni's team in the mega auction.