'Sam Billings is not a normal guy': R Ashwin reveals ex-CSK star’s lavish lifestyle; claims 'he owns almost half of Kent'

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Sep 04, 2025, 09:24 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Ravichandran Ashwin revealed Sam Billings' affluent background, noting his humility despite his wealth. Ashwin highlighted the pressure on overseas players in the IPL, pointing out Billings' inability to maintain consistent performance for CSK, leading to his exclusion from the team. He also mentioned that Billings performed well in ILT20.

'Sam Billings is not a normal guy': R Ashwin reveals ex-CSK star’s lavish lifestyle; claims 'he owns almost half of Kent'

Sam Billings (IANS Photo)

Former India spin all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has shed light on the lavish yet grounded lifestyle of England wicketkeeper-batter Sam Billings, a former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said Billings comes from immense wealth but has remained down-to-earth despite his privileged background.“Sam Billings is not a normal guy. He owns almost half of Kent. We keep cooks and maids in our houses, but in those countries, to have a chef is a huge deal. His house has separate people for housekeeping, laundry, etc. He comes from that background, but a really, really simple guy,” Ashwin remarked.Billings, who represented Delhi Capitals, CSK, and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, never quite lived up to his potential in the tournament. Across 30 matches, he managed just 503 runs at an average below 20 and a strike rate under 130.Reflecting on Billings' IPL struggles, Ashwin said: "A player like Sam Billings is a hit in other formats; he has even performed very well in the ILT20. I remember he performed well for CSK for a few games but couldn’t sustain that performance.

So, he was out of the team."Ashwin further highlighted the intense pressure overseas players face in the IPL. "There is a lot of pressure on these foreign players. Because if four foreign players are allowed in a team, you will have to perform. If you don’t perform in two to three games, you will be out of the team," he added.

Catch Lovlina Borgohain's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 5. Watch Here

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article