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The expected 2025 edition of the SA20 The league will begin on January 9 at St George’s Park, Gqeberha, with Sunrises Eastern Cape face MI Cape Town in the opening match. This season marks an important milestone as Dinesh Karthik becomes the first Indian cricketer to appear in the league, playing for the Pearl Royalsa sister franchise of IPL’s Royals of Rajasthan.
AB de Villiers expresses desire for Indian players in SA20
South African cricket legend AB de Villierswho is the brand ambassador of the league, expressed his enthusiasm for the Indian players taking part in SA20. In a recent media interaction, De Villiers praised Karthik’s inclusion and hoped that Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) it would allow more Indian cricketers to join the tournament in the future.
“I would like to see more Indian players involved. We know that Dinesh Karthik will be here this year, which is great 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.
READ also: South Africa legend Allan Donald picks two Indian stars he would like to see in the SA20 league
De Villiers picks five Indian stars for the tournament
While acknowledging the challenges posed by BCCI’s current policy, which restricts active Indian players from competing in foreign leagues, De Villiers shared his dream picks for the SA20. He expressed his desire to see Indian players, especially those at the peak of their careers, take part in the SA20 league, highlighting 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 Gilli Suryakumar Yadav as players he would love to see in action in South Africa.
“It would be good to see some Indian players, especially in the peak form of their careers, come and play. If I had to choose, I would choose all the current players: Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Virat, Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav.” he revealed
De Villiers highlighted the excitement players like Suryakumar can bring to the league.
“Imagine SKY playing here, that would be amazing!” exclaimed De Villiers.
De Villiers appeals to some retired Indian players
De Villiers reflected on former Indian cricketers who could add value to the SA20 league, naming Robin Uthappa and Irfan Pathan as potential players he would like to see take part. He noted that some of these retired stars are already active in various masters leagues globally, showing their enduring skills and appeal.
“If I think of previous players, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik or even Irfan Pathan come to mind. Some of these players are already playing in Masters Leagues around the world.” he added.
