Piyush Chawla and Siddharth Kaul enter South Africa’s SA20 2025 auction with notable base prices, marking a rare move for Indians into overseas franchise leagues.
New Delhi, 23 August 2025 –
The first auction for players in South Africa’s premier T20 tournament, SA20 League, is attracting global interest as there are 13 Indian players that have registered through the player auction. This is a significant milestone for Indian cricket as the vast majority of Indian cricketers cannot participate in overseas leagues due to BCCI regulations. Players can only participate if they retire or have removed themselves from India (domestic) cricket and are not contracted by BCCI.
List of Indian Players to Register for auction
There are some notable names as well as some up-and-coming players on this listing. The full listing consists of, Piyush Chawla (ex-India), Siddharth Kaul (ex-India), and Ankit Rajpoot (ex-India), Mahesh Ahir (Gujarat), Sarul Kanwar (Punjab), Anureet Singh Kathuria (Delhi), Nikhil Jaga (Rajasthan), Mohamed Faidh, Imran Khan (UPCA), Atul Yadav (UPCA), KS Naveen (Tamil Nadu), Venkatesh Galipelly, and Ansari Marouf — all no longer under BCCI contracts, making them eligible to participate legally.
Base Price and Auction Categories
In terms of base price categories, Piyush Chawla leads the pack with the highest reserve price of 1,000,000 South African Rand (approximately ₹45–50 lakh). Imran Khan has been listed at a base price of 500,000 Rand, while the remaining eleven players have been placed in the minimum bracket of 200,000 Rand each.
Auction Schedule & Team Information for SA20
The SA20 2025 player Auction is being scheduled for September 9, 2025, with six franchises, (MI Cape Town, Joburg Super Kings, Durban’s Super Giants), where a total of 784 players have registered for the auction, and only 84 players remaining to be signed across all franchises. The franchises have a maximum spending limit of USD 7.4 million overall, and franchises are allowed to draft one wildcard player of either local or foreign players outside of the auction.
Dates of the Tournament & Format
The league is set to run from December 26, 2025, to January 25, 2026, with a mix of South African domestic superstars and the top international players.
Importance for Indian Cricket
This announcement is noteworthy for Indian cricket, where opportunities for a pathway into foreign leagues have been few and far between. The presence of players like Chawla, Kaul, and Rajpoot is a signal that more retired Indian players are curing their search for exposure to other leagues around the globe. Joining a league like SA20 provides them with financial opportunities, as well as the chance to showcase themselves on the international playing stage.
Key Highlights and Takeaways
Important highlights of the announcement include the registration of 13 Indian players outside of a BCCI contract, Piyush Chawla’s premium base price, and the auction and competitive nature of the SA20 league. With 784 players registered to play the tournament with only 84 openings, the auction will be one of the most highly followed spectacles in cricket by fans across the world.
