According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Ashwin’s presence in Western Sydney has been flagged as a potential safety risk due to his massive popularity both in India and abroad. The open nature of Cricket NSW’s facilities at Sydney Olympic Park means fans could potentially approach him during training sessions. The Thunder have consulted with Cricket Australia to ensure proper safety measures are in place.
Ashwin is expected to play three to five matches next year and will feature in the final if the Sydney Thunder qualify. Sydney Thunder general manager Copeland called Ashwin “the biggest signing in the history of the BBL,” adding that his presence sends a strong message to fans, members, and sponsors. “All eight clubs wanted this guy. Ashwin has chosen us, which is a really cool story. He will be a great advocate for how great our tournament and the Thunder environment are,” Copeland said.
In addition to his on-field contributions, Ashwin will bring his personal crew to document his BBL journey for his YouTube channel. The cricket star enjoys significant social media following, with 1.75 million YouTube subscribers and 5.3 million Instagram followers.
