Dinesh Karthik, who retired from Indian cricket after the 2024 IPL and later joined Paarl Royals in the SA20 2025, has voiced his opinion on the participation of Indian players in overseas T20 leagues.
The 39-year-old, with an extensive IPL career spanning teams like Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), believes that Indian cricketers should only be allowed to take part in foreign T20 leagues after retirement.
He emphasized his support for the BCCI‘s stance in restricting Indian players from participating in these leagues while still active in Indian cricket. “I am a big believer that the IPL should be the crown jewel for the BCCI. It is at the moment. The IPL is the crown jewel of world cricket,” Karthik said.
He added, “For that to maintain their status quo as No. 1, I believe Indian cricketers shouldn’t be allowed to play in overseas leagues unless they are retired. The players can take their call, because if they feel they are done with IPL, they can move on to other leagues. I completely stand along with the BCCI on that front.”
Regarding the structure of Indian cricket, Karthik expressed confidence that it offers sufficient opportunities and financial security for players. “I agree you can always argue, asking ‘should youngsters be given an opportunity (to play in overseas leagues)?’ But I think there is enough and more in India in terms of competition and ways of being secure financially. The IPL is a great platform. There is good domestic cricket and all the state franchise leagues as well that’s happening right now as we speak,” he shared.
Karthik believes that Indian cricketers have ample avenues to explore cricket within India and that retirement should be the threshold for playing in foreign leagues. “I think there is a lot of cricket to be played in India. Indian cricketers should be allowed to play once they retire. I believe that is the right way to go. I believe SA20 or any other league, for that matter, will be more than happy to work with a couple of retired from playing for India,” he added.
Karthik’s IPL career was impressive, with 4842 runs from 257 matches, an average of 26.31, a strike rate of 135.36, and a top score of 97 not out. In his brief stint with the SA20, he scored 130 runs at an average of 21.66.
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