Spin great Ravichandran Ashwin is set to play for Sydney Thunder in the Australian Big Bash League in a mega deal valued at around $1 million over two years, it was reported on Wednesday.
'No deal has been signed as yet, but there have been discussions of a two-year agreement. Ashwin's salary package is expected to be at the very top end of BBL deals that currently max out around $400,000, with payment split between the Thunder and Cricket Australia’s marketing pool,' said a report in The Sydney Morning Herald.
'Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of discussions say a deal is close to being finalised with Ashwin for the upcoming season.'
'Ashwin, who took 537 wickets at an average of 24 in 106 Tests, has told the Thunder he is keen to play for them,' the report further added.
Ashwin will make history as the first capped India men's player to participate in the BBL T20 league.
He will play for Ricky Ponting-coached Sydney Thunders for the latter stages of the BBL after finishing his stint in the ILT20.
Thunder, led by former Australia opener David Warner, boast of a strong batting line-up in young opener Sam Konstas along with internationals Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings and Lockie Ferguson.
Ashwin will bolster Thunder's spin department which already features Chris Green, Tom Andrews, Tanveer Sangha and Pakistan's Shadab Khan.
Only one Indian has played in the BBL -- former Under-19 captain Unmukt Chand, who played for the Melbourne Renegades in 2022.
The 2025-26 Big Bash League season is scheduled to start on December 14, 2025, with the final match to be played on January 25, 2026.
Sydney Thunder will be hoping Ashwin's inclusion ends their long wait for the BBL title, with their only league title coming in the 2015-16 season.
No India international player has played in the Big Bash League so far. Ashwin, who announced his retirement from the IPL last month, is free to play in overseas T20 league. He has already registered for the first-ever ILT20 auction in the UAE, which will take place next Tuesday.
As Ashwin did not enter the BBL overseas draft, Cricket Australia will need to grant him an exemption, similar to the one provided for Martin Guptill's late inclusion with Melbourne Renegades in 2022.
In the IPL, Ashwin played 221 matches, taking 187 wickets at an average of 30.22, with best figures of 4/34. He also contributed 833 runs with the bat, including a highest score of 50.
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