Andhra batter Ashwin Hebbar, 30, has spoken candidly about the near-impossible path for uncapped domestic openers to break into the IPL, after enduring 33 franchise trials over seven to eight years.
Andhra batter Ashwin Hebbar has spoken openly about the immense difficulty facing domestic openers who aspire to earn an IPL contract, revealing that he attended 33 franchise trials across seven to eight years without securing a deal. The 30-year-old, who has established himself as one of the most consistent performers in the Andhra Premier League, made these remarks in an interview that has drawn significant attention to the structural barriers confronting uncapped Indian openers.
Hebbar, speaking to India TV, explained that IPL franchises consistently deploy established international stars at the top of the order, leaving virtually no room for unproven domestic talent in that position. He pointed out that only a handful of uncapped domestic openers have broken through in recent years, and he named Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as rare exceptions.
"I think being an opener, it is a sin in Indian cricket. Especially if you want to get into IPL, it's a very hard path because if you see all the 10 franchises, they have legends opening the innings. Like, for example, if you see RCB, you have Virat Kohli and Phil Salt opening. CSK, you have Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad. And RR, you have Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal. I mean every franchise has their best players opening the innings," Hebbar told India TV.
"And for a domestic uncapped player, I've only seen like two or three players in the last seven-eight years who have made it there. Like players like Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh. I think these are two players who come to my mind. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, too, who is now an international talent. There are very few players who have got into IPL straight as an uncapped domestic player. So, it's a very hard path, definitely," he added.
How is Hebbar adapting his game to improve his IPL selection chances?
Hebbar has taken a deliberate step to address the structural barrier by shifting from his natural opening position to the middle order for Andhra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The move is a calculated attempt to present himself as a more versatile option to IPL franchises, who have shown a preference for experienced international names at the top of the batting order. This positional shift represents a significant departure from the role in which Hebbar has thrived throughout his domestic career.
"Taking up this challenge very seriously. I've always opened and if I want to be in my comfort zone, I'd still be opening all my career and probably not get where I want. But now I have a challenge in front of me saying, okay, if you play middle order, we are going to pick you. This is the criteria. And I am taking that challenge up and I'm pushing myself out of my comfort zone to be able to achieve that," Hebbar said.
In the Andhra Premier League 2026, Hebbar produced a strike rate climbing past 210, underlining his explosive capability at the top of the order. He has won the Orange Cap in the APL on three consecutive occasions, in 2024, 2025 and 2026, accumulating 560 runs in the most recent edition to claim the leading run-scorer award for the third year running. His performances in the APL have been the primary evidence he has presented to IPL franchises during those 33 trials.
What overseas experience has Hebbar gained and what are his broader ambitions?
Beyond the domestic circuit, Hebbar has actively sought exposure in challenging overseas conditions. Earlier in 2026, he toured Northern Ireland and scored over 1,000 runs, demonstrating his ability to perform in seaming conditions far removed from the high-scoring pitches typically found in India. He has also featured in the T20 Blast as part of his county cricket commitments, further broadening his experience across different formats and environments.
"The conditions are much colder and the wickets are very challenging. So, in India we get high-scoring pitches, but over there you need to apply a lot of, you know, need to apply and play your shots. You can't really accelerate from ball one. And the wicket, there is swing in the air, definitely, and also there's enough grass cover that you can't play a lot of shots," Hebbar added.
Hebbar's broader ambition extends to T20Is for India, and he has stated that every innings he plays is directed towards that ultimate goal. His earlier stint with Delhi Capitals in the IPL gave him a taste of the franchise environment, and his sustained performances across the APL, county cricket and overseas tours reflect a determined effort to return to that level.