Ashwin breaks new ground as first Indian player to join Big Bash LeagueFormer India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has shattered a long-standing barrier by signing with Sydney Thunder, becoming the first male Indian player to join Australia's Big Bash League (BBL) on Thursday. While Indian women have participated in the women's edition of the BBL, the BCCI has never allowed its male counterparts to join overseas T20 competitions, making 39-year-old Ashwin's Thunder signing a historic moment. "Ashwin will enter Thunder's lineup in early January and ignite the club's push to play in back-to-back BBL Finals." The crafty off-spinner will not immediately join Thunder's campaign when the BBL season starts in December, however, as he has committed to the International League T20 tournament. Ashwin retired from Test cricket with 765 international wickets in all formats, including 537 in tests.
