R Ashwin ruled out of remainder of MLC due to knee injury, Peter Siddle announced as replacement

San Francisco Unicorns' campaign has hit a major roadblock as legendary India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been ruled out for the remainder of Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026. The franchise confirmed on Thursday (July 9) that a right knee injury has cut the spinner's stint short. To fill the massive void left in their bowling department, the Unicorns have secured tournament approval to bring in experienced Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle as his official replacement.

Injury rules R Ashwin out of rest of MLC season

This injury setback has also raised serious question marks over Ashwin's availability for the highly anticipated, inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL), which kicks off in late August. Ashwin was secured as a marquee direct overseas signing for the Dublin Guardians—a franchise owned by Rahul Dravid—where he is slated to orchestrate the team's campaign in a high-profile dual capacity as both captain and mentor. Medical staff will be tracking his rehabilitation closely over the coming weeks to see if he can recover in time for the tournament opener.

Ashwin's frustrating stint cut short

Ashwin's 2026 MLC journey ends after just a single appearance, where he bowled two wicketless overs and leaked 24 runs against the Texas Super Kings. This latest knee issue continues a deeply frustrating phase for the veteran cricketer; the very same injury had previously required surgery, completely derailing what was highly anticipated to be his maiden Big Bash League (BBL) campaign with the Sydney Thunder earlier.

Siddle comes in as Ashwin's replacement

Peter Siddle’s temporary stint with the San Francisco Unicorns has officially been converted into a full-time stay. The 41-year-old former Australian speedster, who originally joined the franchise as short-term injury cover for compatriots Xavier Bartlett and Aaron Hardie, is now locked in to remain with the squad for the duration of the tournament. With a stellar international resume boasting 221 wickets across 67 Test matches, Siddle injects a wealth of global franchise experience into the Unicorns' bowling arsenal at a crucial juncture of the season.

Siddle's veteran presence arrives with the Unicorns currently sitting pretty at the summit of the Major League Cricket points table. Backed by an impressive run of five victories from their opening eight fixtures, San Francisco has accumulated 10 points to lead the pack. The frontrunners will look to consolidate their top spot and secure a comfortable playoff seeding in their upcoming consecutive fixtures against the Los Angeles Knight Riders and the Seattle Orcas.