Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has advocated for Indian cricketers’ participation in overseas T20 leagues, citing that playing alongside international stars overseas would give youngsters “terrific” exposure and broaden their cricketing horizons.

According to the current BCCI regulations, any India cricketer who has not announced formal retirement from all forms of the game — domestic and international — isn’t eligible to take part in any overseas T20 league that competes with the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Ravichandran Ashwin is set to become the first capped Indian men's cricketer to play in the Big Bash League (BBL). He became eligible to play in foreign league after announcing his IPL retirement in August this year. The off-spinner bid adieu to international cricket in December 2024, midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.

“India is a massive country, not everyone gets an opportunity to play, not everyone can make it. So, why stop a guy (from playing in the Big Bash League) if he can’t make it to the Test side, get a level C or level D contract?” Shastri said on the Willow Talk podcast.

“That exposure will help him when he comes back, like the IPL has helped so many young players as they rub shoulders with top class players,” he added.

The 63-year-old also highlighted that besides sharing the dressing room with a host of international stars, the players will also learn a lot from the games’ legends, who may be a part of the coaching staff.

“They learn to handle pressure. Additionally, they get to rub shoulders with big international stars like (Ricky) Ponting and (Stephen) Fleming and international players,” Shastri stated.

“It’s an education—and for me, there’s no better education than going overseas. That exposure is terrific, not just in cricketing terms but in understanding different cultures and methods. You learn so many things—a West Indian training method will be different from an Australian one,” he remarked.