New Delhi: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, widely expected to feature in overseas franchise leagues after retiring from the IPL, was a surprising omission from the SA20 2026 player auction list.
Ashwin had recently revealed plans to participate in two to three leagues annually and even expressed interest in exploring coaching opportunities with franchises. Given that retired Indian cricketers are eligible to join overseas leagues, many anticipated his inclusion in the SA20 auction.
Initially, there was speculation that Ashwin might have been affected by the BCCI’s earlier one-year “cooling-off” rule, which in 2023 forced Ambati Rayudu to withdraw from Major League Cricket (MLC). However, reports suggest the policy was scrapped after pushback from players.
According to Wisden, Ashwin’s absence has nothing to do with restrictions. Instead, he has chosen to enter the ILT20 auction, with the UAE-based league clashing with the SA20 schedule. While SA20 runs from December through January, ILT20 begins on January 11, leading to a significant overlap.
Ashwin had retired from Test cricket during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia last year, stunning the cricketing world with his mid-series announcement. He later quit all international formats before making a final appearance in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings, where he claimed seven wickets in nine matches during a disappointing campaign that saw CSK finish last for the first time.
