Robin Uthappa likely to become first Indian cricketer to be part of SA20

Robin Uthappa has been shortlisted for the SA20 2nd Season auction.

The Indian Premier League is the biggest franchise tournament in the world. Its stake is ever higher than the cricket world, which is why every test-playing nation wants or has developed their own T20 leagues. But it is very rare to see an Indian star playing in an overseas league because, as per the clause by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), no Indian can play in other leagues until they are under contract or active (not retired).

Well, recently we saw Ambati Rayudu playing in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League 2023 after retiring from international cricket and the IPL. But now, it seems that another former Indian superstar is all set to make his debut in the overseas T20 league. The South Africa T20 League (SA 20) is all set to introduce its second season.

Robin Uthappa registers for the auction of the second season of the SA20.

The second edition of the South Africa T20 League (SA 20) is all set to have an auction. Six franchises will have a chance to reshuffle their teams and try to pick the best for the coming season. A number of superstars from across the globe have entered the action. Former Indian star Robin Uthappa, who was a member of the Indian team that won the 2007 T20 World Cup, has also registered his name.

Robin Uthappa can become the first Indian cricket to feature in SA 20. There are a total of 122 overseas stars from 14 countries who are shortlisted to go under the hammer. The auction will take place on September 27 in Johannesburg. Many South African players have also put their names, including 13 capped stars. Janneman Mala and Kyle Verreyne will also be on auction after leaving the Joburg Super Kings.

All six teams have already retained a number of players, with only 15 places left to fill combined for all six teams. SA 20 season 2 auction will have a new segment named 'Rookie Player Pick,' where each team will have to pick a South African player aged 22 or less who hasn't featured in the first edition to make the team a 21-member squad.

Among the international stars, 14 players have set a base price of R 850,000 (approx US 45,000 million). These players are Pakistan's Naseem Shah and Mohammad Nawaz, India’s Uthappa, New Zealand’s Colin de Grandhomme, West Indies’ Romario Shepherd and Brandon King, Sri Lanka’s Lahiru Kumara and Angelo Mathews, England’s Adam Lyth, Josh Tongue, David Payne, and Wayne Madsen, and Australia’s Kane Richardson.