Former England captain Ben Stokes. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Former England Test captain Ben Stokes could become the highest-paid player in Big Bash League (BBL) history after retiring from international cricket after series defeat against New Zeland. According to reports from Code Sports, the all-rounder is attracting significant interest from multiple BBL franchises, with the Sydney Sixers leading the race for his signature ahead of the 2026/27 season.Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket in June 2026, bringing the curtain down on a glittering England career. However, the 35-year-old has made it clear that he has no plans to step away from the game entirely and intends to continue playing domestic and franchise cricket around the world.

Stokes keen to continue playing after international retirement

Unlike several former international captains who moved directly into coaching or broadcasting, Stokes wants to remain an active cricketer. The England great recently returned to action for Durham and is expected to play a larger role in the County Championship, hoping to help his home county achieve sustained success.Now, as per Code Sports, Ben Stokes has shown interest for BBL and a bidding war has reportedly broken out among BBL franchises, with the Sydney Sixers emerging as the frontrunners to secure Stokes’ services. The Sixers’ advantage stems from the appointment of former England white-ball coach Matthew Mott, who shares a successful history with Stokes. The pair famously guided England to the 2022 T20 World Cup title in Australia, with Stokes scoring an unbeaten 52 in the final against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.Stokes is also no stranger to the Big Bash, having represented the Melbourne Renegades during the 2014/15 season. However, several other franchises are also monitoring the situation closely. The Hobart Hurricanes are among the teams interested, with Cricket Tasmania previously expressing its desire to bring the England star to Tasmania.

Record-breaking BBL contract on the cards

Reports suggest Cricket Australia is optimistic about securing Stokes for at least part of the upcoming BBL season. The proposed marquee deal is believed to be worth around AUD 600,000, which could make Stokes the most expensive overseas signing in BBL history.One challenge remains scheduling. Stokes may prefer to spend Christmas with his family in England before potentially joining another franchise competition. The South Africa-based SA20 begins in January, creating a possible scheduling conflict for the all-rounder.

n immediate IPL return, however, appears unlikely. Under current BCCI regulations, Stokes cannot enter the IPL auction until 2028 after opting out of the 2025 mega auction. Players who skip the mega auction are ineligible for the subsequent mini auctions under the existing rules. He is also unavailable for the current edition of The Hundred, having not registered for the player draft.