The highly anticipated 2025 edition of the SA20 league is set to kick off 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 significant milestone as Dinesh Karthik becomes the first Indian cricketer to feature in the league, playing for the Paarl Royals, a sister franchise of IPL’s Rajasthan Royals.
AB de Villiers expresses desire for Indian players in SA20
South African cricket legend AB de Villiers, who serves as the brand ambassador for the league, voiced his enthusiasm for Indian players participating in SA20. In a recent media interaction, De Villiers praised the inclusion of Karthik and hoped the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would allow more Indian cricketers to join the tournament in the future.
“I would love to see more Indian players involved. 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 fun of the SA20,” said De Villiers.
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De Villiers picks five Indian stars to feature in the tournament
While acknowledging the challenges posed by BCCI’s current policy, which restricts active Indian players from competing 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, emphasizing the excitement and quality they would bring. De Villiers highlighted his top picks from the current crop of Indian cricketers, naming Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav as players he would love to see in action in South Africa.
“It would be nice to see some Indian players, especially in the peak form of their careers, come over and play. If I had to pick, I’d choose all the current players: Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Virat, Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav,” he 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 reflected on former Indian cricketers who could bring value to the SA20 league, naming Robin Uthappa, and Irfan Pathan as potential players he would love to see participate. He noted that some of these retired stars are already active in various Masters Leagues globally, showcasing their enduring skills and appeal.
“If I think about past players, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik, or maybe even Irfan Pathan come to mind. Some of these players already participate in Masters Leagues around the world,” he added.
![SA vs PAK [WATCH] Tristan Stubbs bombarded with jerseys and hats as he obliges fans’ autograph requests](https://crickettimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Tristan-Stubbs-giving-autographs-during-SA-vs-PAK.webp "SA vs PAK [WATCH] Tristan Stubbs bombarded with jerseys and hats as he obliges fans’ autograph requests")
