Ravichandran Ashwin’s street-smart tactics have often left batters puzzled. And batters aren’t the only ones to have been left surprised.
Ashwin has stunned all cricket fans with his landmark BBL deal. He is set to don Sydney Thunder’s jersey come January 2026. And this has left absolutely everyone buzzing about his move.
So, here we unpack Ravichandran Ashwin’s BBL deal with Sydney Thunder.
Why did Ashwin join the Sydney Thunder?
Well, he’s now a free agent. When he retired from the IPL and Indian domestic cricket, he had hinted towards exploring new opportunities.
And his search seems to have taken him to Australia, particularly to Sydney Thunder. But why Sydney Thunder?
Four BBL clubs – Thunder, Adelaide Strikers, Hobart Hurricanes, and Sydney Sixers – pitched for Ashwin’s inclusion in their squads. The Thunder stood out for Ashwin, thanks to the clarity around his role with the club.
So, what role will Ashwin play with Sydney Thunder?
Ashwin, of course, comes on board as a premier spinner. Plus, he’s more than a handy batter.
Who knows, we might even see him pair up with David Warner at the top of the order for some quick knocks!
And he brings in his years of experience to the Thunder’s on-field and off-field tactics. His game awareness will largely help the Thunder with their on-field strategies.
On the off-field aspect, Ashwin will mentor his fellow spinners, which aligns with his ambition to become a coach one day. The young players at the Thunder stand to benefit from this deal.
But how did the deal come about? And who was involved in making it happen?
Trent Copeland is the man behind Ashwin’s BBL deal. As soon as Ashwin announced his IPL retirement, Copeland was eager to bring him to the BBL.
But who is Trent Copeland?
He is the general manager of the Thunder. He is, in fact, a former Australian and New South Wales cricketer.
Copeland was among the first to get Ashwin on board. He tried to reach out to Ashwin directly before speaking with the BBL’s talent acquisition head, Trent Woodhill.
And when the BBL formally asked clubs to pitch their deals to the off-spinner, the Thunder and Copeland were at the forefront.
During their talks, Ashwin’s attitude to make a positive impact on his fellow players aligned with the Thunder’s management. That was the green light to seal the landmark deal.
What’s the significance of Ashwin’s BBL deal?
See, Ashwin is the first major Indian player to head to the BBL. Sure, a couple of Indian-origin players have featured in the league. But none of them donned the Indian jersey at the international level.
So, this deal makes Ashwin the first Indian international cricketer to play in the BBL. And Ashwin surely won’t be the last Indian to make such a move.
This is huge for the BBL, which has always been craving big Indian names to play down under. Now that makes it a significant move, doesn’t it?
But what does Ashwin’s signing mean for the BBL as a whole?
First and foremost is the viewership. India is the biggest cricket broadcasting market.
And Ashwin’s deal provides BBL an opportunity to aggressively market its league to Indian viewers. While some of you may have followed the league up close, there will be more interest now.
The impact, though, won’t be just limited to India. Ashwin’s association with the Thunder provides a chance to engage with the Indian diaspora in Western Sydney.
This will boost the Thunder’s fan engagement to the next level, which may potentially turn into higher stadium attendance. And which franchise doesn’t want a packed stadium?
The BBL, the Thunder, and overall, Australian cricket stand to win thanks to Ashwin’s historic move.
What does Ashwin’s move mean for the future of Indian players in foreign T20 leagues?
Although Ashwin isn’t the first Indian to sign a foreign T20 league deal, it shows the value Indian cricketers hold.
Every T20 league wants Indian players to turn up for their franchises. They are ready to shell out handsome money.
And this opens up an opportunity for those Indian players who have retired or couldn’t make it big in international cricket to ply their trade in overseas T20 leagues, that too at significant deals.
Finally, when will Ashwin join Sydney Thunder?
Ashwin will be available to play the full BBL|15 season for the Thunders. So, you can see him in action as early as December 16, 2025, in the Thunder’s first league stage match against Hobart Hurricanes in Hobart.
Ashwin was initially expected to land a deal in the UAE’s International League T20 (ILT20) for the 2025-26 season. Had he been picked up, his availability would’ve been limited to three to four matches towards the end of the season.
But since Ashwin went unsold in the ILT20 auction, he has made himself available throughout the BBL 2025-26 edition, including the finals series if the Thunder make the cut.
But how will Ashwin fit into the Thunder squad with their existing spin attack?
With Ashwin’s inclusion, the Thunder have bolstered their spin attack. They already had Pakistan’s Shadab Khan and locals Chris Green, Tanvir Sangha, and Tom Andrews in their ranks.
Now, Australian pitches aren’t very spin-friendly. But the Thunder’s home ground – the Sydney Showground Stadium – does offer some help to the tweakers. That’s why the Thunder have such a spin lineup at their disposal.
While Shadab, Green, and Sangha might be the starters in the first half, once Ashwin arrives, one of them will sit out. And it’s most likely that Shadab will make way, as the BBL only allows three overseas players in the XI.
Sam Billings and Lockie Ferguson are almost lock-ins for the two overseas spots, with Ashwin being the third one. But Ashwin and Shadab might play together at the spin-friendly Sydney Showground Stadium.
Speaking of his expected performance at other Australian venues, Ashwin has considerable experience playing down under. He was India’s lead spinner on many tours.
His numbers aren’t impressive, but he made a significant impact on a couple of tours. So, expect the same when Ashwin bowls in the BBL|15.
He will come out with his skill set at his disposal. The arm ball, the regular off spin, the carrom ball – you name it, he’s gonna bowl it.
Whatever the outcome might be, Ashwin’s historic BBL move has everyone talking about it.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Yes, Ashwin will feature Sydney Thunder in the 15th season of the BBL.
Yes, Indian-born Unmukt Chand and Nikhil Chaudhary have featured in the BBL before Ashwin, though they never played for India in international cricket.
Ashwin’s presence in the league will boost viewership and fan engagement for the BBL.
Ashwin won’t play in the ILT20, as no team picked him up in the auction.
