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Smriti Mandhana
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Dinesh Karthik will become the first Indian cricketer to take part in the SA20 league as he will play for the Paarl Royals in the upcoming 2025 season of South Africa's T20 competition.

According to Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) policy, Indian Men's cricketers are not allowed to take part in overseas T20 competitions unless they retire from Indian cricket at all levels, that is, cut all ties with the cricket board.

MORE: Why does BCCI not allow Indian men's cricketers to take part in foreign T20 leagues?

The 39-year-old who had announced his retirement from Indian cricket after the last Indian Premier League (IPL) season, is now eligible to take part in foreign T20 league competitions.

Karthik was earlier also appointed as the SA20 league's brand ambassador but now will have the opportunity to play in the tournament as well.

In this article, The Sporting News looks at a list of all Indians who have taken part in overseas T20 competitions.

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Complete list of Indians who have played in overseas T20 leagues

Before the conception of the grand IPL tournaments, there was so major restriction on Indian players to participate in foreign cricket leagues. Therefore, veterans like Sourav Ganguly, Zaheer Khan and Virender Sehwag had played in T20 competitions for various English county clubs.

Murali Karthik was the first Indian player to play in an overseas T20 competition, when he played for the English club Middlesex Crusaders in the Stanford T20 league, with whom he went on to win the tournament as well.

Indian women's cricketers such as Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues and Shreyanka Patil, who do not have any BCCI restrictions imposed on them, unlike their male counterparts, have featured in multiple overseas leagues.

Here is a list of all the Indians who have played in foreign T20 league compeitions:

Indians who have featured in overseas T20 leagues
PlayerClub/Franchise
Smriti MandhanaSouthern Brave (The Hundred), Brisbane Heat, Sydney Thunder, Hobart Hurricanes (WBBL)
Suresh RainaDeccan Gladiators (Abu Dhabi T10 league)
Yuvraj SinghMaratha Arabians (Abu Dhabi T10 league)
Harmanpreet KaurSydney Thunder, Melbourne Renegades [WBBL], Trent Rockets, Manchester Originals {The Hundred), Lancashire Thunder (English Women's T20)
Shreyanka PatilGuyana Amazon Warriors (Women's CPL)
Sourav GangulyLancashire, Glamorgan, Northamptonshire (English T20)
Virender SehwagLeicestershire (English T20)
Ambati RayuduSt. Kitts & Nevis Patriots (CPL), Texas Super Kings (Major League Cricket)
Zaheer KhanSurrey, Worcestershire (English T20)
Jemimah RodriguesYorkshire Diamonds (English Women's T20), Northern Superchargers (The Hundred), Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars (WBBL)
Smit PatelSan Francisco Unicorns (Major League Cricket), Barbados Royals (CPL)
Unmukt ChandChattogram Challengers (BPL), Melbourne Renegades (BBL), Los Angeles Knight Riders (Major League Cricket), Silicon Valley Strikers (Minor League Cricket)
Pravin TambeTrinbago Knight Riders (CPL)
Shafali VermaSydney Sixers (WBBL), Birmingham Phoenix (The Hundred)
Praveen KumarTexas Chargers (US Masters T10 league)
Irfan PathanMiddlesex (English T20), Kandy Tuskers (Lanka Premier League)
Munaf PatelKandy Tuskers (Lanka Premier League)
Sudeep TyagiDambulla Viking (Lanka Premier League)
Manpreet GonyToronto Nationals (Global T20 Canada)
Murali KarthikMiddlesex (English T20)
Dinesh MongiaLancashire (English T20)
Harmeet SinghSeattle Orcas (Major League Cricket)
Sarbjeet Singh LaddaMI New York (Major League Cricket)
Chaitanya BishnoiSan Francisco Unicorns (Major League Cricket)
Tajinder Singh DhillonSan Francisco Unicorns (Major League Cricket)
Shubham RanjaneSeattle Orcas (Major League Cricket)
Milind KumarTexas Super Kings (Major League Cricket)
Deepti SharmaLondon Spirit, Birmingham Phoenix (The Hundred), Sydney Thunder (WBBL)
Radha YadavSydney Sixers (WBBL)
Richa GhoshHobart Hurricanes (WBBL), London Spirit (The Hundred)
Poonam YadavBrisbane Heat (WBBL)
Sunny SohalBarbados Tridents (CPL)

MORE: Are CSK finally joining Women's Premier League?

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Author(s)
Saino Zachariah Photo

Saino Zachariah is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition.