The long-awaited 2025 edition of SA20 The league is scheduled to begin on January 9 at St George’s Park, Gqeberha, with Sunrisers Eastern Cape facing MI Cape Town in the opening match. This season marks a major milestone as Dinesh Karthik becomes the first Indian cricketer to participate in the league, playing for the Pearl Royalsa sister franchise of the IPL Rajasthan Royals.
AB de Villiers expresses desire for Indian players in SA20
The South African cricket legend AB de Villierswho serves as the brand ambassador for the league, expressed his excitement for the Indian players participating in the SA20. In a recent media interaction, De Villiers lauded Karthik’s inclusion and hoped that Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will allow more Indian cricketers to participate in the tournament in future.
“I would love to see more Indian players participating. We know Dinesh Karthik will be here this year which is fantastic and great for the tournament. Hopefully the BCCI will allow us to get more Indian players in the future to join the SA20 fun.” De Villiers said.
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De Villiers picks five Indian stars to take part in the tournament
While acknowledging the challenges posed by the current BCCI policy, which restricts active Indian players from playing in overseas leagues, De Villiers shared his dream picks for the SA20. He expressed his desire to see Indian players, particularly those at the peak of their careers, participate in the SA20 league, stressing the excitement and quality they would bring. De Villiers highlighted his top picks from the current crop of Indian cricketers, naming jasprit bumrahRishabh Pant, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gilland Suryakumar Yadav as players he would like to see in action in South Africa.
“It would be nice to see some Indian players, especially at the peak of their career, come and play. If I had to pick, I would pick all the current players: Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Virat, Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav. revealed.
De Villiers highlighted the excitement that players like Suryakumar could bring to the league.
“Imagine SKY playing here — that would be amazing!” De Villiers exclaimed.
De Villiers appeals for some retired Indian players
De Villiers brainstormed on former Indian cricketers who could bring value to the SA20 league, naming Robin Uthappa and Irfan Pathan as possible players he would like to see feature. He noted that some of these retired stars are already active in various Masters Leagues worldwide, showcasing their enduring skills and appeal.
“If I think of old players, I think of Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik or maybe even Irfan Pathan. Some of these players are already participating in Masters Leagues around the world. he added.
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2025-01-08 15:30:00
