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Ravichandran Ashwin skipped the SA20 2026 auction, opting for the ILT20 due to schedule overlap. After retiring from international cricket, he also ended his IPL stint with CSK.
Ravichandran Ashwin announced retirement from IPL. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has been linked with various overseas franchise leagues following his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), was notably absent from the player auction list of SA20 2026.
This came after Ashwin shared his plans, stating that he might play in two to three leagues annually and is also open to taking up a coaching role for a franchise.
Why R Ashwin Will Not Play In SA 2026?
There were speculations that Ashwin could enter the SA20 2026 auction, given that players who have retired from Indian cricket are eligible to participate in overseas leagues. However, to everyone’s surprise, the 38-year-old’s name was missing from the SA20 player auction list.
Initially, there were doubts about whether the BCCI’s one-year “cooling-off” requirement was still in effect. This policy, proposed in 2023, led Ambati Rayudu to withdraw from Major League Cricket (MLC) after retiring from the IPL. Various reports suggest that the policy was withdrawn following players’ dissatisfaction.
According to a report in Wisden, Ashwin’s absence is not due to any restriction but rather his interest in participating in the ILT20 auction pool, as the tournament coincides with the SA20. While South Africa’s T20 tournament starts in December and runs for a month, ILT20 will commence on January 11 next year. With part of the tournaments overlapping, Ashwin chose to compete in ILT20.
Last year, Ashwin announced his retirement from Test cricket during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The veteran all-rounder shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from international cricket following the draw in the third Test at Brisbane.
After retiring from international formats, Ashwin returned to the Chennai Super Kings and saw his team finish last for the first time in the history of the tournament. He had a mediocre season, taking seven wickets in nine appearances, and had his final performance at Chepauk.
(With inputs from ANI)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More
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