Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is reportedly ‘keen’ to become the first Indian men’s player to feature in The Hundred, England’s premier 100-ball/side competition. According to The Telegraph, Ashwin plans
to play in several leagues around the world, and The Hundred is one of them, starting as soon as the next season.
The report comes only hours after Ashwin announced his retirement from IPL, meaning he would not be playing any non-domestic cricket in India anymore. BCCI’s rules are clear in this regard: any active men’s cricketer can’t participate in leagues around the world, which is designed to protect the exclusivity of the IPL.
Ashwin’s retirement opens up the door for him to play in The Hundred and any other league of his choosing.
“Special day and hence a special beginning. They say every ending will have a new start. My time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today, but my time as an explorer of the game around various leagues begins today. Would like to thank all the franchisees for all the wonderful memories and relationships over the years, and most importantly, the @IPL and the @BCCI for what they have given me until now. Look forward to enjoying and making the most of what’s ahead of me #cricketforlife,” Ashwin said in a social media post.
It’ll be massive for The Hundred if one of the eight teams is able to rope Ashwin in. The competition has struggled for popularity, especially outside England, and the biggest audiences are in India, where they generally don’t watch other leagues unless there are Indians playing in them.
The next year’s tournament will also be the first since most franchises picked up massive investments from the Indians, with several IPL owners involved. Many teams will be rebranded to match their parent franchise’s names, while the player salaries are also expected to rise manifold, drawing further world talent.
Ashwin is one of India’s greatest Test spinners with a brilliant white-ball record. At 38, he has struggled for similar efficiency in the IPL, but would bring a ton of experience and ingenuity to any team in The Hundred.
