Dinesh Karthik surprised everyone by signing up for Paarl Royals in the SA20 T20 League. He will represent them in the next edition. After his retirement, many thought he would not play a competitive game again. However, he has pulled off a surprise by signing up for a very competitive league like SA20. For the tournament, as well, it is a massive coup. Getting a player of his calibre and popularity will help the franchise. Paarl Royals would have an experienced wicket-keeper, finisher, and man who can increase their fanbase. A few other Indians could follow suit. Here, we take a look at the list of three Indians who could retire and explore SA20 like Dinesh Karthik.
1) Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan‘s IPL career might be coming to an end. He did not play a lot of games in IPL 2024. Considering his age and form, he might not find another IPL contract.
That said, he is a very popular name and could help a few IPL franchises. As a batter, he could very much offer more. His chances of returning to Team India are very bleak. Hence, it does make sense for him to finish his career by exploring different options.
2) Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma is one of the Indians who could retire and explore SA20 like Dinesh Karthik. The chances of Ishant coming back to Team India are very slim. Also, it is not sure if he will get a chance in IPL 2025, mainly because of his age and consistency in the T20 format.
The legend that he is, a tournament like SA20 could benefit from his presence. In IPL 2024, he actually did well in patches. In suitable conditions in South Africa, he could be a very decent backup overseas pacer. His presence will also draw more Indian viewers. Therefore, it could be a win for all parties.
