Ravichandran Ashwin retired from the Indian Premier League(IPL) on August 27 and now, he is looking forward to playing cricket in foreign leagues. The 38-year-old possesses massive experience and he will
expect teams to invest in him. In the cash-rich league, he served illustrious title-winning teams such as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). This year, he returned to CSK after 10 years but couldn’t be impactful. Eventually, after the disappointing season, he hung up his boots from the cash-rich league. Four days after his retirement, Ashwin registered his name for the ILT20 2026 auction to be held on September 30 in Dubai. As the business event is a month away, SportsTiger has come up with the three teams that could show interest in the veteran spinner.
Here are the three teams that can buy Ravichandran Ashwin in the ILT20 2026 auction:
3. MI Emirates
MI Emirates might reserve Ashwin’s services at theILT20 2025 auction as they released spinners Akeal Hosein and Waqar Salamkheil who failed to be impactful for them. Ashwin can be bought by Emirates and the off-spinner can be assigned the responsibility to spearhead their spin-bowling attack.
Hosein played 10 games for Emirates in the last season and took only two wickets while Salamkheil also got only six wickets in 1o contests at an economy of 8.25. Following thor release, Emirates will strive to build their spin-bowling unit.
2. Desert Vipers
Desert Vipers, who will enter the tournament as reigning champions, will also look to get a quality spinner at the auction. Nathan Sowter and Dhruv Parashar couldn't deliver numbers as per the side’s expectations. The champion side parted ways with both players and now they will require a bowler who can reinforce their spin-bowling unit with Wanindu Hasaranga.
Hasaranga played an instrumental role in Vipers’ trophy win; picking up 12 wickets in nine matches at an economy of 5.88. Vipers might snap up Ashwin to support in-form Hasaranga to defend the title successfully this season.
1. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will also require the services of a spinner in the upcoming auction. All-rounder Roston Chase, who was a vital cog in 2025, failed to support Sunil Narine to bolster Knight Riders’ spin attack. Appearing in five games, he could pick up only one wicket at a miserable economy of 10.33. Chase’s horrendous performance didn’t get him a spot in Abu Dhabi’s retained list.
Noting the vacant place for a spinner in Abu Dhabi, there are chances that Knight Riders might also fetch Ashwin at the auction for the upcoming T20 tournament. The duo ofRavichandran Ashwin and Narine has the potential to trouble batters and Abu Dhabi may also think of forming such pair in their team.
