SA20 2025: Dinesh Karthik made the headlines recently by becoming the first Indian cricketer to sign up for the SA20 tournament, where he will represent Rajasthan Royals' sister franchise, Paarl Royals in the 2025 season.

The latest recruitment opens the door for more Indian players to explore opportunities in global T20 leagues. Earlier this year, the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman announced his retirement from Indian cricket. He also parted ways with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.

At 39 years, the Tamil Nadu-born reckons that he has still got the juice left in him to deliver the goods as a wicketkeeper and finisher. The senior pro was roped in by the Royals to fill the position left by Jos Buttler. The England international had already confirmed his absence for the next season.

Let's take a glimpse at three Indian cricketers who could consider playing in SA20 if they go unsold at the IPL 2025 Mega auction.

1. Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane has struggled to find consistency for CSK in IPL 2024. Despite a resurgence in form during IPL 2023 season, Rahane failed to hit the sweet spot as he mustered 242 runs in 13 games at an average of 20.17 at a strike rate of 123.47.

With the competition for IPL slots getting tougher nowadays, especially with younger players rising through the ranks, Rahane might not attract bids in the upcoming auction. If the 36-year-old veteran goes unsold, SA20 could be the right platform for him to continue operating at a high level.

2. Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan was once a premier mainstay at the top of the order for both India and in IPL. However, there has been a steady decline in his form in recent years. It very much seems that he has reached the twilight of his career and his spot in the IPL is probably not secure as it once was.

He suffered a shoulder injury against former champions Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024 season, that saw Sam Curran leading Punjab Kings in most games. If the 38-year-old goes unsold at the next auction, he should call it quits from IPL to feature in South Africa's premier T20 competition.

3. Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey has long been touted as a talented middle-order batter, but his inconsistent recitals have kept him from realizing his full potential. The senior cricketer might struggle to attract interest from the bidders at the IPL 2025 auction.

The 34-year-old who represented KKR in the last season, played just one game where he scored 42 runs before warming the bench throughout the season. Manish still has got a few more years of good cricket left in him. It would be a wise decision for him to quit IPL and step foot into the SA20 league, in case he goes unsold at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction.