Indian cricket legend Ravichandran Ashwin has made a significant commitment to the Big Bash League by signing with the Sydney Thunder for the entire season after going unsold in the ILT20 Auction. The Thunder had initially announced the signing of Ashwin for the 15th edition of the BBL, making him the first capped Indian player to feature in the Australian T20 competition. Despite being set to play only the final three matches and playoffs due to ILT20 commitments, Ashwin withdrew from the auction after receiving no interest from franchises. As reported by CricBuzz, Ashwin will now be available for the Thunder for the entire BBL season, from December 14 to January 25. This development will not impact the team’s salary cap. Ashwin recently retired from the Indian Premier League, allowing him to explore opportunities in other T20 leagues. Cricket Australia granted an exemption for his participation in the BBL, similar to previous cases like Martin Guptill’s deal with the Melbourne Renegades. CA chief executive Todd Greenberg praised Ashwin’s addition to the BBL, noting the excitement for fans to watch him play. The Thunder will kick off their BBL campaign on December 16 against the Hobart Hurricanes in a grand final rematch at Bellerive Oval.
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