Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been ruled out of the 2025 Big Bash League (BBL) due to a knee injury sustained during training in Chennai, his franchise Sydney Thunder confirmed on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old off-spinner, who was set to become the first Indian male cricketer to feature in the Australian league, had signed a full-season contract with the Thunder. However, the injury has sidelined him for now, with the franchise stating that his recovery will be closely monitored to assess the possibility of a late-season return.
“The impact of Ashwin’s history-making signing will continue to be felt across the Thunder Nation,” the club said in a statement. “We’re working closely with him on a revised schedule during BBL|15, depending on how his recovery progresses.”
In his own statement, Ashwin expressed disappointment at missing the tournament:
“While training in Chennai to prepare for the season, I injured my knee and had to undergo a procedure. Unfortunately, that means I’ll miss BBL 15. It’s tough to say because I was genuinely excited to be part of this group and play in front of the fans,” he said.
“For now, it’s about rehab, recovery, and doing the work to come back stronger. From my first chat with the club, I’ve only felt warmth and support from Trent, the staff, the players, and all the fans. Thank you for making me feel at home even before bowling a ball.”
Ashwin added that he hopes to join the team later in the season if his recovery and travel plans align, with medical clearance: “I’ll be cheering for both our women’s and men’s teams. If all goes well, I’d love to come by later in the season and say hello in person — no promises, but that’s the plan.”
Earlier this year, Ashwin retired from the Indian Premier League (IPL) and had agreed to play at least three matches in the latter half of the BBL season. The arrangement was linked to his participation in the ILT20, where he listed a base price of USD 120,000 but went unsold — becoming the first capped Indian to secure a BBL contract instead.
Sydney Thunder begin their BBL 2025 campaign against Hobart Hurricanes in Hobart on December 16, followed by the Sydney Smash at ENGIE Stadium on December 20.
Sydney Thunder squad: Wes Agar, Tom Andrews, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings (ENG), Ollie Davies, Lockie Ferguson (NZ), Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Shadab Khan (PAK), Sam Konstas, Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Adian O’Connor, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner.
