Ravichandran Ashwin surprisingly found no buyers in the ILT20 Auction and has now said that he had considered pulling out of it a few days earlier when his deal with Big Bash League side Sydney Thunder was finalised. Ashwin's base price at the auction was set at $120,000, the highest in the pool. Ashwin said that he was not ready to reduce his base price. "That's the price I wanted as a bare minimum, and I'm happy not to play at this stage of my career if my value isn't met," Ashwin told Cricbuzz. Ashwin pulled out after going unsold in the first round. Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull said that Ashwin would've probably been snapped up had he stuck around but the former India all rounder said that he decided to commit to Sydney Thunder for the entire BBL season. "I was about to pull out a few days before the auction because of the Thunder deal, but since I had already committed to the ILT20 that I would enter the auction, I honoured my word. However, I did not agree to lowering my base price. I have signed up with Sydney Thunder for the entire season," he said. Ashwin is all set to become the first high-profile Indian man to appear in the BBL later this year. “Thunder were crystal clear about how they’d use me and brave enough to back it,” Ashwin said in a statement. “My conversations with the leadership were excellent, and we’re fully aligned on my role. I love how Dave Warner plays the game, and it’s always better when your leader shares your mindset. I can’t wait to perform for the Thunder Nation.” Considered among the greatest spinners of all time in red-ball cricket, Ashwin has taken 72 wickets in 65 T20Is for India at 23.22. He has also been prolific in the IPL, taking 187 wickets in 221 matches, representing Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI Punjab, Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals. Ashwin had won the league in 2010 and 2011. His retirement from the league had come shortly after he ended his Test career during India’s tour of Australia earlier this year.
