R Ashwin keen to become first Indian to play in The Hundred

R Ashwin has expressed keenness to become the first Indian cricketer to participate in The Hundred competition in England. Ravichandran Ashwin recently hung his boots from the Indian Premier League (IPL), stating that he was open on experiencing different franchise leagues.

Other than the plethora of white-ball competitions which Ashwin could be a part of, The Hundred remains a prime target for the 38-year-old. The next year’s Hundred competition will be the first edition in which the teams will be rebranded after the sale of stakes in the franchises earlier in the year. The integration of Ashwin will be a huge bonus for the competition in general.

The franchises based at Old Trafford, Headingley, the Ageas Bowl and the Oval have been partially or fully bought by Indian groups. These groups also own IPL franchises. It is highly likely, according to a report from The Telegraph, that Ashwin will attract bids from these franchises in particular. The top-most salaries paid to cricketers in The Hundred (men’s) this time around are £200,000.

Ashwin could be expected to bag a rich sum next season, especially considering the flow of fresh investment coming in. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have wanted an Indian player featuring in domestic competitions organised by them since quite some time. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not allow any of its players to play for non-Indian leagues. Ashwin, having already retired from international cricket and the IPL now, has the perfect opportunity to explore the world.

Ashwin is a legend of Indian cricket and also possesses one of the sharpest cricket minds in the world. His presence would understandably attract a wider audience to view The Hundred, which had a goal to become the second-most prominent franchise league behind the IPL. Roping in Ashwin could help make progress towards that. 

Ashwin has picked 317 wickets in 333 T20s at a frugal economy of 7.11.