Just months after bidding farewell to international cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin’s much-awaited return to the field has been derailed by a cruel twist of fate. The 60-Test veteran and one of India’s modern greats has been ruled out of the entire Big Bash League (BBL15) season with Sydney Thunder, following a serious knee injury suffered during training in Chennai.
The setback has left fans and teammates stunned, cutting short what was expected to be the start of Ashwin’s global T20 chapter — a second act after his storied international career.
“While training in Chennai to prepare for the upcoming season, I hurt my knee. I’ve had a procedure, and the outcome means I’ll miss BBL15. That is tough to say,” Ashwin revealed on Instagram, sounding dejected yet composed. “I was genuinely excited to be part of this group.”
The 38-year-old off-spinner confirmed he has undergone a medical procedure and will now shift focus entirely to rehabilitation. “For now, it’s rehab, recovery, and doing the work to come back stronger,” he wrote.
Ashwin also expressed gratitude to the Thunder management for their unwavering support. “From my first chat with the club, I have felt only warmth. Trent (Copeland), the staff, the players, and so many of you have reached out. Thank you for making me feel at home before a ball has even been bowled.”
