New Delhi: Until now, only a few Indian players, such as Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, and Yusuf Pathan, have appeared in the UAE ILT20 League. However, this will be the first time that recently retired veteran R. Ashwin will be participating in the auction. He has set a maximum base price of US$120,000, the highest in this auction.
Starting a New Inning After Retirement
Ashwin retired from international cricket after the 2024-25 Australia tour and announced his retirement from the IPL in August 2025. He had then stated that his future would be spent playing in various leagues around the world. Recently, he became the first Indian player to sign a contract with Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League. Now, he is eyeing ILT20.
Presence of Indian Players
Not only Ashwin, but five other Indian players are also participating in the auction. The most prominent among them is Piyush Chawla, who, with 192 wickets, is the fourth most successful bowler in IPL history. Ashwin is fifth on this list with 187 wickets. Priyank Panchal, Ankit Rajpoot, and Siddarth Kaul will also be available for auction at a base price of $10,000.
Auction Budget and Other Big Names
Each franchise has the option to spend up to $2 million, with a minimum of $1.5 million mandatory. An additional $250,000 can be spent for two wildcard players. After Ashwin, the highest base price is $80,000, a category that includes 20 foreign players. These include Jason Roy, Tymal Mills, Evin Lewis, Mohammad Nabi, Naseem Shah, and Shamar Joseph.
Story Highlights
- R. Ashwin has the highest base price of $120,000.
- Five Indian players, including Piyush Chawla, are included in the auction list.
- Franchises can spend a maximum of $2 million and an additional $250,000 on wildcards.
- The $80,000 group includes legends like Jason Roy, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Nabi.
Former CSK veteran Ravichandran Ashwin, recently retired, enters ILT20 auction with the highest base price of $120,000, sparking speculation if he’ll become the league’s costliest purchase.
