Ashwin's Honest Verdict on India's Global Franchise Future
If you've been holding out hope that Virat Kohli or Jasprit Bumrah might one day turn out at Lord's in a Hundred fixture, Ravichandran Ashwin has some sobering news for you. Speaking on the BBC's Stumped podcast, the recently retired off-spinner gave a characteristically candid assessment of whether Indian cricketers will ever be permitted to ply their trade in overseas franchise competitions. His answer, in short, was no.
"The honest answer is no," Ashwin told Stumped. "Whether you agree to it or not, the economic model means a lot to the game, and the IPL is standing at the cusp of probably having a valuation that's more than some of the other leagues."
For those who follow the franchise cricket markets, this is significant context. The outright odds on any active Indian international appearing in The Hundred's 2026 edition should remain firmly unattractive for punters, given the structural realities Ashwin outlines.
The BCCI's Iron Grip on Indian Talent
At the heart of the matter lies the Board of Control for Cricket in India's longstanding policy barring its contracted men's players from participating in rival T20 leagues abroad. That rule has remained firmly in place despite growing commercial entanglement between the IPL ecosystem and competitions like The Hundred, where four franchises are now backed by IPL-affiliated owners.
Ashwin, who retired from international cricket in 2024 after becoming India's second-highest wicket-taker behind Anil Kumble — amassing over 750 international wickets across his career — suggested the BCCI's position is rooted in hard economics rather than mere protectionism. "The IPL is able to retain the quality of players, local players especially, and Indian players are heavily marketable in the country," he explained. "Enabling them to move on to another league, especially when they're contracted to play for their country, I don't think it's going to happen."
One-Off Appearances Still Possible
That said, Ashwin, now 39, did leave a small window open. He acknowledged that retired or uncapped Indian players could still surface in global leagues from time to time. "You will see one-off cricketers here and there who will turn up and play in some of these leagues," he noted — a category he himself now falls into.
Having retired from the IPL earlier this year, Ashwin has embraced life as a franchise journeyman. He was selected by Sydney Thunder for Australia's Big Bash League in September 2025 — a landmark moment as the first Indian men's player to be picked up by a BBL side — though a knee injury ultimately ruled him out before he could take the field. He is currently representing the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket in the United States.
What This Means for The Hundred's Global Ambitions
From a coaching and analytical perspective, Ashwin's comments cut to the core of a tension that organisers of The Hundred and other emerging leagues have never fully resolved. The IPL's financial gravity is simply too powerful. Until the BCCI recalibrates its policy — which looks unlikely while the IPL continues its extraordinary commercial growth — the world's most marketable cricket talent will remain out of reach.
For British fans dreaming of watching elite Indian stars at Edgbaston or The Oval in a Hundred context, Ashwin's assessment is a reality check worth heeding. The structural economics of the global game, as he so clearly articulates them, make that scenario a distant prospect rather than an imminent one.
