Former India wicket keeper and batter Dinesh Karthik is set to make history as the first Indian player to feature in the South African T20 league (SA20) next year, set to start from January 9. Although he recently retired from all formats of the game, Karthik will return to action with Paarl Royals, the sister franchise of the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals.
At 39, Karthik had declared his retirement from all forms of cricket following the IPL 2024 season with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). His return to the game also coincides with his recent appointment as one of the ambassadors for the SA20 League.
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Dinesh Karthik Expresses Eagerness For SA20
Karthik expressed excitement about returning to competitive cricket in South Africa, highlighting his fond memories of the country and his eagerness to win the SA20 League with the Royals.
“I have so many fond memories of playing in and visiting South Africa, and when this opportunity came about, I couldn’t say no because of how special it would be to come back to playing competitive cricket and win this incredible competition with the Royals,” Karthik said in a release shared by the Royals.
"Even though I didn't have the chance to represent the Royals in the IPL, to me it was always a franchise setup and environment that was very attractive as a player. I am delighted to be joining the Paarl Royals team which oozes a lot of experience, quality and potential. I am certainly looking forward to joining the group and contributing to what should be an exciting season," the former India and RCB batter added.
Notably, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) permits only retired Indian players to participate in foreign leagues. Karthik will join recent retirees like Ambati Rayudu, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina and Robin Uthappa in competing in overseas franchise tournaments.