Ashwin Eyes ILT20 Auction, Hopes for Franchise Selection

New Delhi, Sep 1 (PTI) Having hung up his boots from all forms of Indian cricket, legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has now expressed keen interest in participating in the auctions for the upcoming edition of ILT20. The tournament is set to take place in the UAE from December 2 to January 4, 2026.

At nearly 39 years of age, Ashwin, who recently announced his retirement from the IPL, is now free to explore opportunities in franchise-based T20 leagues across the world. Having taken 765 wickets in 287 international matches, he stands as India’s second-highest wicket-taker across formats and could be the most prominent name to join a global league outside the IPL, provided a franchise selects him at the auctions.

"Yes, I am in talks with the organisers. Hopefully, I will have a buyer if I register for the auction," Ashwin shared with Cricbuzz. The auction is slated for September 30 in Dubai, with the registration window closing by September 10.

This marks the first time that ILT20 will adopt an auction format, having previously utilized a Draft System to secure players in earlier seasons. Among notable Indians who’ve previously played in the ILT20, Ambati Rayudu stands out, having represented MI Emirates in a prior season.

Nonetheless, Rayudu’s profile never quite matched the prominence of Ashwin, particularly given Ashwin's stature as a key Test match-winner for India.