While the Indian Premier League (IPL) remains the most lucrative T20 league for players around the world, it is not the only destination for T20 stars. In fact, now Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, Afghanistan all boast of their own T20 leagues. Out of all the franchise leagues, the IPL is the most lucrative one with astronomical salaries. It also enjoys a dedicated window, making it easier for players from around the world to compete in it. However, no active Indian cricketer plays in leagues outside India. 

That has been the policy of the BCCI from the very beginning. “I am a big believer that the IPL should be the crown jewel for the BCCI and it is, at the moment, in world cricket,” Karthik said. 

“And for it to maintain its status quo as number one, I believe that Indian cricketers shouldn’t be allowed unless they are retired. They can take the call if they feel they are done with the IPL and move on to play in other leagues. I completely stand with BCCI on that front.

“I agree you can always argue saying can youngsters be given more opportunities but I think there’s enough and more in India in terms of competition and in ways of being financially secure. And if you are good enough, IPL is a great platform. There’s domestic cricket and the other franchise leagues that are happening in India right now, as we speak…Cricketers from India should be allowed to play once they retire. I think that’s the right way to go. I believe the SA20, or any other league for that matter, will be more than happy to work with and have a couple of other players, who have retired from the BCCI and from playing for India.”

Former South African cricketer and SA20 League Commissioner Graeme Smith has heaped praise on Dinesh Karthik, calling him a “huge asset” to the league following the veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter’s debut in the tournament. Karthik, who became the first Indian player to feature in SA20 after retiring from Indian cricket in June last year, played for Paarl Royals in the recently concluded third season.

“Dinesh Karthik is a wonderful professional and was a huge asset to SA20 this year. He performed well, played key knocks in the middle order, and kept wickets effectively. From an SA20 perspective, having him on commentary and in PR engagements was fantastic—he speaks well and understands the game deeply. It was great for him to experience playing in South Africa again, and from our conversations, he thoroughly enjoyed the event, the passionate crowds, and the competitive cricket. He spoke very highly of it,” Smith told IANS during a media interaction on Tuesday.

Karthik, 39, featured in 11 matches for Paarl Royals, scoring 130 runs. The Royals, led by David Miller, boasted a strong lineup that included international stars such as Joe Root, Lungi Ngidi, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. His retirement from Indian cricket paved the way for his SA20 participation, as only retired Indian players are allowed to compete in overseas franchise leagues.

With IANS inputs 

Veteran wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik, who has retired from both international cricket and the Indian Premier League, became the top-scoring wicket-keeper batter in the nation’s history, surpassing MS Dhoni, with his exploits in SA20 league. However, when asked about the elite milestone, Karthik said that he never really cared for records as his only aim while playing cricket was to represent the country. Though he is happy to have beaten Dhoni to the No. 1 spot, he knows that the Thala can retake the record in the IPL 2025 season.

“I played a lot of my cricket wanting to play for India. And when I retired from the IPL and playing in India six months ago… I think that was most important – trying to play for the country and doing well. I have never been someone who has been fascinated by records, probably because I don’t have great records. I don’t know,” Karthik, who played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL before retirement, said.

“It’s great to know that I overtook Dhoni, but it won’t be long before he overtakes me. It really wouldn’t trouble me much. I am happy for him to keep that record as the highest run-scorer as a wicketkeeper – I don’t even know what exactly it is. It’s okay, it’s nice to know, but it’s not something that I crave or really want,” he added.

Karthik also got the opportunity to run shoulders with England’s modern-day great Joe Root during his time in South Africa at Paarl Royals.

“Playing with Joe Root was one of the highlights for me in this tournament. I haven’t interacted with him much before – I’ve just said ‘hello, hi’ when I’ve seen him – but to rub shoulders with him and share the same dressing room was fantastic. What a terrific personality!” said Karthik.

“He is a legend of the game. He will easily go down as one of the greatest batters to have ever played the sport. But the attitude he brings – warm, welcoming, and always eager to help the youngsters – is remarkable. He always wants to have fun and ensures the team enjoys themselves.

“We had this push-up contest after the match – all started by him. The energy he brings and the genuineness he shows towards the sport were wonderful. It was one of the best experiences, playing with such a legend. He was very relaxed, and it was a lot of fun,” Karthik added.

Karthik has scored a total of 7537 runs in T20 cricket, giving him a 105-run lead over MS Dhoni.

Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has expressed his surprise over the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s decision to strip Hardik Pandya as the vice-captain of the T20I team. This comes after the BCCI did not list Hardik as the designated vice-captain of the team for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England. Instead, all-rounder Axar Patel has been named as deputy to T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. Karthik feels that the move to strip Hardik off the role makes no sense.

“I really don’t know. I don’t know why he (Hardik) was stripped of his vice-captaincy. I don’t see any reason to (strip Pandya of the vice-captaincy). (India) have done well. They have won in the bilaterals that he was the vice-captain. Not a clue,” said Karthik on Cricbuzz.

At one point, Hardik was leading the race to replace Rohit as captain of the T20I team. He even led the team on multiple occasions whenever Rohit was rested.

He won three out of four T20I series as captain, before Suryakumar’s elevation after the T20 World Cup success last year.

Meanwhile, India will play England in a five-match series, starting with the first game in Kolkata on January 22.

The second and third matches will be held on January 25 and 28 in Chennai and Rajkot, respectively. The fourth game of the series will be played on January 31 in Pune. Mumbai will host the final match of the T20I series on February 2.

Nearly 14 months after he last played an international match, veteran seamer Mohammed Shami will make his return to the side during the series.

India T20I squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (vc), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk).

File image of KL Rahul.© BCCI/IPL

Vidarbha batter Karun Nair‘s stunning form in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) has sparked debates of his return to the Indian team. So far in seven innings, Nair has notched up scores of 112, 44, 163, 111, 112, 122 and 88, and has been dismissed just once in the tournament so far. Amid his sparkling run of form in VHT, fans and experts have vouched for his selection in India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against England, as well as the ICC Champions Trophy.

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has also shared his views on Nair’s recent form. While Karthik acknowledged that player’s exploits with the bat, he, however, explained the reason why Nair won’t be considered for selection just yet.

“Karun Nair, it’s been unreal to see the form that you’ve been in. Even Mayank Agarwal has been in some really good form. But the beauty is, it’s coming at a stage when the Indian ODI setup is almost ready to go. There can’t be too many changes,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

Karthik, however, suggested that if Nair continues to score runs, his return to the Indian team will just be a matter of time.

“Yes, it’s very tempting to bring a Karun Nair into the setup, and I think he has earned the right to be part of the talks. But I don’t think he’ll make it to the Champions Trophy 25 squad. But if he keeps going like this, why not? A form batter like that who plays fast and spin well, he’s a gun player, and I’m very happy for him,” he added.

Karthik also shared his views on young batter Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s omission from the T20I squad against England.

He explained: “He (Jaiswal) is rested (for England T20Is). He has had a very long tour of Australia, mentally draining for a young kid like that. He needs a break. Playing a 5-match series, a Test series is not a joke. I think they (selectors) have done the right thing. 100% he will be in the ODIs against England and the Champions Trophy. Don’t worry. He is batting brilliantly well. These 5 T20s won’t make a difference to him.”

Pressure is piling on Gautam Gambhir and there’s no denying that. He was appointed as the head coach of the Indian team after a title-winning Indian Premier League-winning season with Kolkata Knight Riders. But, results have gone awry as Gambhir’s tenure has progressed. After the recent 1-3 defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Gambhir found himself in the line of fire. Even during the BCCI meeting on Saturday, the head coach had to face some tough questions. Even Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli‘s long-term teammate in the Indian team and Royal Challengers Bengaluru feels the time is tough for Gambhir.

“I think, when it comes to Gautam Gambhir, you got to cut him some slack a little bit because I think he has come in at a very tough time. Post a successful regime of Rahul Dravid, it’s never easy to fill those shoes,” Karthik told Cricbuzz.

It’s the T20 cricket where Gambhir has found the most success of late, thanks to his mentorship stints with Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders. But, the longer formats still seem to be a struggle for him.

“He has found success, an immense success in T20 cricket, where he’s had a lot of young boys. He’s been able to have, I would dare say, a massive influence over them. But in Test cricket, he has had the going very hard.

Gambhir is also perceived as the sort of person who likes to impose his own style of play. Hence, Karthik wonders if Gambhir is happy with his current players.

“I think the biggest decision for him to make is if he is very, very happy with his current set of players. Is he able to influence them over decision-making? Are they aligned with his thought process? What is his ideology of how the Test team should look? And are these players fitting in? If that is the case, great. If not, then you have to obviously figure out what is the best way moving forward,” he said.

“Test cricket has been hard for Gautam Gambhir, the coach,” concluded Karthik.

Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith is brimming with excitement for the upcoming SA20 season, emphasizing the league’s focus on enhancing fan experiences and delivering high-quality cricket. “I think a lot of it is about doing things well again,” Smith told ANI. “Fan experience in the stadium, we have invested a lot of money for it, for the entertainment, stuff for kids, etc,” he added. Smith, considered one of the greatest captains of all times, also praised the depth and strength of the teams this season.

“We have got quality players coming this year, the best of South African players. I think all teams are looking very strong. There are so many great match-ups coming our way,” he noted.

The 43-year-old also expressed his anticipation for a rookie or youngster to step up and deliver a big performance during the tournament.

One of the major highlights of this year’s SA20 is the inclusion of Dinesh Karthik, who will represent the Paarl Royals. Smith lauded the Indian wicketkeeper-batter for his career achievements and recent IPL form.

“DK has had an incredible career. He has had two brilliant IPLs the last two seasons. I am looking forward to how he plays. He is a character, he has a unique style of play. With how the wicket plays in Paarl, he could be an asset for Paarl Royals. Also, he brings in a lot of experience. It is great to have our first Indian superstar in SA20,” Smith said.

Smith also spoke about the strong relationship between SA20 and Indian cricket, and thanked BCCI and IPL for backing the South Africa-based league.

“We are fortunate to have a great relationship with the IPL and BCCI. They have backed us and supported us. We have worked closely. I am excited to bring more Indian players to South Africa. They are loved here for their ability, skill, and character. We would work with them for bringing more Indian players whenever the time is right,” he said.

Highlighting the historic bond between Indian fans and South African cricket, Smith reminisced about how the relationship blossomed after South Africa’s readmission to international cricket.

“Indian fans have had a great relationship with South African cricket ever since the readmission. The first SA team coming here. They just fell in love with SA cricket. Hopefully, they will enjoy what they will see, and hopefully, we will keep them entertained,” he added.

With strong teams, promising talents, and the inclusion of a marquee Indian player, Smith believes the upcoming SA20 season is set to create unforgettable moments for fans across the globe.

South African great Ab de Villiers hopes the BCCI will allow Indian players to take part in the SA20 in the near future as it will only raise the profile of the young franchise-based league. Dinesh Karthik is set to become the first Indian cricketer to compete in the SA20 but that was only made possible when he announced his international and domestic retirement last year. The BCCI doesn’t allow active players to take part in overseas leagues and as of now, the only way to play events outside India is by calling time on your career at home. Having said that, there is a growing trend of cricketers taking retirement in India to try their luck in the burgeoning overseas competitions.

“I would love to see more Indian players involved. We know Dinesh Karthik will be here this year which is fantastic and it’s great for the tournament.

“And hopefully the BCCI will allow us to get more Indian players in the future to come and join the fun of the SA20,” said de Villiers in a select media interaction ahead of third edition of SA20 beginning on January 9.

Having said that, he is fully aware that the BCCI is not going to make active Indian players available for overseas leagues anytime soon but he would love to his the likes of Virat Kohli being part of SA20.

”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.

“Imagine SKY playing here — that would be amazing! But 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. Who knows, maybe I’ll join them in the near future,” said de Villiers.

He also reckons that only way to keep a league ahead of its rivals is by attracting the best overseas talent like the IPL has done over the years.

“We (SA20) can just keep growing with regards to the overseas players. That’s a large part of the success of the IPL over the years and I’ve followed the IPL since 2008. It’s every year the overseas contingents seem to get stronger and stronger.

“You get the best players in the world and the best players in India and that combination makes for great cricket. So I think for Graeme Smith and his team moving forward it’s just to keep pushing hard, as hard as they can (to get the best overseas talent),” de Villiers said.

De Villiers not a fan of impact player rule

The contentious impact player rule in the IPL has been extended till 2027 but de Villiers is not a fan of the concept.

When asked if the rule should be introduced in SA20, he added:” “I’ve never been a big fan, to be honest, and I did speak about it at the IPL last season. I feel it’s a bit confusing, it also puts a bit of pressure on the all-rounders and their role in the teams.

“From the outside it looks exciting, but actually when the game takes place, I’ve never found it to be… a good thing to have in cricket. So, I mean, you can try it out. And the SA20, they’ve always been open to new ideas and new rules, which I find good,” he said.

File photo of Rohit Sharma© AFP

As the focus remains on under-fire veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, a few other members of India’s batting unit haven’t performed either. Kohli and Rohit’s struggles with the bat in Australia have been a cause for concern but the talented Shubman Gill hasn’t repaid the faith shown in him by the team management either. As Gill continues to search for his prime form, former India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik has highlighted a ‘technical flaw’ in the batter’s playing style.

In the three outings that Gill has been a part of this series, he has recorded scores of 31, 28, and 1. Karthik feels Gill needs to fix the ‘flaw’ in his batting if he is to succeed in Australia. Karthik also feels Gill needs to alter his approach a little. At the moment, he seems to be playing the same way he would in Australia, which is an incorrect approach.

“I think Shubman Gill definitely has a slight technical error, which is pushing at the ball. When you play a lot of white ball cricket, you tend to do that. Travis Head does that as well, but what he has found is the method of doing that, and I think that players like Shubman Gill are caught in the trap of the way they bat in India and the way they bat outside,” Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

“Which is, the moment you see the ball released from the bowler, your mind tells you that this is a full ball you need to go at it. Batsmen who travel abroad to places like Australia, England and South Africa tune themselves in practice when they see a fuller ball like that, especially against a new ball – A) they play with slightly soft hands, or B) they try and focus on playing the ball as close to the body or leave. Shubman Gill is playing like he would play in India, where he sees the release, goes for the ball with hard hands. Now in Australia, sometimes, in places like the Gabba, playing off the front foot is a little difficult. So at the start of the innings, you have to tell yourself that, I have to leave,” Karthik pointed out Shubman Gill’s critical flaw in his batting.

Karthik didn’t mince words as he criticised the right-handed batter for playing ‘ordinary shots’ in Australia.

“For a No.3 batsman who has been around for so long, Shubman Gill has played a very, very ordinary shot, there are no mincing words here. And let’s be honest here, that the Indian batting, as a group, have not fired here for some time now, and with every passing innings, they are putting pressure on themselves,” Karthik concluded.