Ravichandran Ashwin's arrival in the T20 free agent circuit has taken a perplexing twist even before it started. Indian off-spinner, who retired from IPL earlier this year and retired from international cricket, was widely expected to be one of the marquee signings at the ILT20 2025 auction in Dubai. With a reserve price of USD 120,000, the highest across all players, Ashwin's availability at the table was guaranteed to interest franchises seeking experience and Indian popularity in the UAE's top T20 league. But when the day finally came, Ashwin remained unsold, leaving fans bewildered. Early speculation was of course regarding his lofty base price or possible age issues, but a fresh development provides a different picture. It is reported that Ashwin might have withdrawn from the auction at the eleventh hour. If this is the case, it would explain why no team bid for the spinner even though multiple franchises still had huge chunks of their purse available. Former New Zealand bowler and commentator Simon Doull, who was among the experts, had termed it as a "massive surprise," stating that teams with more than USD 400,000 in hand would have presumably been eager to grab a player like Ashwin. Also Read | Will RCB Join SA20? Graeme Smith Comments on the Team’s Future Here is what New Zealand’s Simon Doull commented during a live auction broadcast: “We’re hearing that he may have pulled out of the auction, which is a massive surprise. I mean, you’ve got to read the room,” “You’ve got to understand what’s going on out there and all that money left, when there are three or four teams with over $400,000 left in their pot. I don’t think they came here not wanting to spend money-it’s there to be spent. If he pulled himself out, then he just hasn’t read the room. I think sides would have gone in for him,” he said. The Big Bash League and the ILT20's scheduling can also reveal Ashwin's unexpected move. The UAE competition is from December 2 until January 4, and the BBL is set from December 14 until January 25. Sydney Thunder already has Ashwin under contract, and he will feature in four games after the UAE league. Ashwin's no-show at the ILT20 auction came as a surprise to many, but his BBL contract with Sydney Thunder provides some clarity. With scheduling conflicts and commitments in Australia, the veteran off-spinner appears to be starting his freelance T20 career there, and fans are left wondering about his next major move.