India’s Ravichandran Ashwin will not be playing in the Big Bash League (BBL) this season due to injury. The seasoned off-spinner has been ruled out before the start of the Australian franchise competition after suffering a knee injury that requires surgery. Ashwin was slated to become the first Indian cricketer to feature in the BBL, but his participation has now been derailed.
The 37-year-old Ashwin revealed that he had begun his preparations for the BBL, only to sustain the injury during his training. Medical advice has confirmed that he will need to undergo knee surgery, which will sideline him for the duration of the tournament. This year’s Big Bash will run from December 14 to January 25, a period during which Ashwin will be unavailable.
Ashwin’s team, Sydney Thunder, issued a statement confirming the news, with Ashwin expressing his disappointment: “It’s incredibly disappointing not to be able to play in the Big Bash. My focus now is on getting fully fit and returning stronger than before. I’m grateful for the faith and support shown by Sydney Thunder and I hope to repay that in the future.”
Ashwin also mentioned that, if his rehabilitation progresses well, he intends to visit Sydney towards the end of the tournament to meet the team and supporters. “I’ll try to join the team towards the end of the season, if possible. I wish Thunder all the best for the competition.”
Sydney Thunder’s General Manager, Trent Copeland, expressed his disappointment, stating that the team was looking forward to Ashwin joining them and that the news of his injury came as a significant setback. He also wished Ashwin a swift recovery and expressed hope that Ashwin might still be able to contribute to the team by sharing his experience with the players, even if he cannot take the field.