R Ashwin ruled out of upcoming BBL as Sydney Thunder explore non-playing role

Ravichandran Ashwin will not be able to participate in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season as he continues to recover following a knee surgery, the off-spinner revealed on Tuesday in a social media post.

The 39-year-old, who was signed by Sydney Thunder, was set to become the first capped Indian player to feature in the BBL but he hurt his knee during a preparatory camp, leading to surgery.

Ashwin ‘gutted’ over missing BBL

Ashwin said he was “gutted” to miss out on the opportunity to play for the Thunder in the upcoming BBL season. The franchise took to social media to share a letter from the star India spinner.

A letter from Ash💚 pic.twitter.com/mQqjpUYS9O

— Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) November 4, 2025

“My focus now is recovery and coming back stronger. I’m grateful to the Thunder family and the fans for the warmth they’ve already shown me. Trent [Copeland, Thunder general manager] and the entire management made me feel part of the club from our very first conversation,” Ashwin wrote in a post put up on social media by the BBL team’s handle.

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The star off-spinner had retired from the Indian Premier League earlier this year to be able to participate in franchise-based tournaments abroad. He was set to feature in the entire season for the Sydney-based club after going unsold in the ILT20 auction. However, despite the injury, Ashwin and Thunder both continue to explore the possibility of the star off-spinner being with the franchise in a non-playing capacity.

“If rehab and travel plans allow, I’d love to be around the group later in the season and meet the fans. Wishing both Thunder teams a big year,” said Ashwin.

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The franchise remains hopeful of having Ashwin in the dugout for the upcoming season.

“From the moment we first spoke with Ash, his commitment to Thunder was clear. We are hopeful of welcoming him into our dugout for part of BBL|15, introducing him to our fans at events and building a long-term relationship,” Trent Copeland, the general manager of the franchise said.

The 2025-26 edition of the BBL is set to begin on December 15.