Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India’s greatest match-winners and cricket’s most tactical thinkers, recently retired from the IPL. But the 38-year-old is far from done with the game. In fact, if reports are to be believed, Ashwin is about to enter an exciting new phase of his career, one that could redefine modern franchise cricket.
Ashwin Player-Cum-Coach Role in Horizon
Ashwin is now targeting a player-cum-coach role, a position that would allow him to both play and mentor younger cricketers across global leagues. According to reports, he has plans to participate in at least three major overseas tournaments. The ones on his radar are:
Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA The Hundred in England ILT20 in the UAE
Each of these leagues is rapidly growing in popularity and heavily backed by IPL team owners. That makes Ashwin, with his cricketing brain and global fan following, a perfect fit. SA20 and Big Bash Interest
South Africa’s SA20 was also in the mix, but the timing may not work out this season. The player auction is set for September 9, and the final list is already locked. That significantly reduces his chances of featuring there in 2025.
Interestingly, there are also murmurs that Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) has reached out to Ashwin. If he does accept a BBL offer, it would be a groundbreaking move, given how rare it is for top Indian stars to play in Australia’s flagship T20 tournament.
Free Agent With Global Demand
The key difference now is that Ashwin is a free agent, no longer bound by IPL commitments. Outside of the Big Bash, most of these leagues have IPL franchise owners, which means signing Ashwin isn’t just about cricket—it’s about global visibility, broadcast pull, and commercial value. Franchises will likely leave no stone unturned to sign a player of his stature and following.
Beyond PLaying: R Ashwin Commentary Beckons
And here’s another twist: Ashwin’s articulate nature and sharp cricketing insights mean commentary could also be on the cards. Fluent in English he could well be balancing on-field duties with commentary stints, much like global legends have done before him.
For now, the question remains: where will Ravichandran Ashwin take guard next? Whatever his decision, it’s clear, Ashwin’s next innings promises to be just as influential as his legendary career on the field.
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