“Hoping the BCCI will slowly open that door” - Michael Clarke hopes to see more Indian players in the BBL in the future

Former Australian captain and commentator, Michael Clarke, has stated that he hopes to see more contracted Indian players getting a chance to play in the Big Bash League (BBL) in the near future. 

Notably, Clarke’s comments came after Ravichandran Ashwin’s signing by the Sydney Thunder for the upcoming BBL 2025-26 season. Interestingly, Ashwin became the first Indian male player to be signed by a BBL franchise. 

“Ravi [Ashwin] has been an amazing player for India and in the IPL, and he’s done a lot for the game. So, I think to have him come and now play in Australian domestic league, the BBL, I am hoping it opens the door not only if you retire from playing for India and now come and play, I am hoping there’s a possibility somehow, say there’s a player who’s not involved in the Indian Test series but the BBL is on. I am hoping the BCCI will slowly open that door so the players can keep playing cricket,” Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.

Furthermore, Clarke asserted that he wasn’t surprised that the Indian team won the Asia Cup 2025 campaign, adding that they entered the tournament as the strong favorites and went on to lift the silverware.

“It’s great they [Pakistan] made the finals. There’s no doubt about it, but I think the reality is India’s got the measure of them. I think India dominated that whole Asia Cup… They were the favorites, and I am not surprised they won. I think the most impressive thing from India’s perspective is how they won. They knew they were the favorites, and they played that way,” Clarke said.

After India’s upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies, they will next take on Australia Down Under in three-match ODI series and five-match T20I series.

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