AB de Villiers, a South African cricket superstar, has suggested that it would be fantastic if Indian players like MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli participated in SA20 during their last season. He joked that both of India’s greats will be well taken care of in South Africa.
The next round of SA20 kicks off on January 10 and wraps up on February 10. Six teams, owned by IPL team owners, make up the South African league. Even so, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refuses to change their stance. This keeps contracted players from joining overseas franchise leagues.
Nonetheless, AB De Villiers expressed optimism that things would soon improve in an interview with Hindustan Times Digital. In response to a question on the potential of Kohli participating in the league and SA20 Commissioner Graeme Smith’s desire to personally get in touch with Dhoni, the former Proteas batsman made the following statement:
“(Laughs) I think it would be very possible to get Virat over here. Maybe for his final season we’ll give him a wonderful farewell for the end of his career. I haven’t discussed it with any players except for Robin Uthappa and R.P Singh. Not so long ago, we did some work together and I told them it would be great to see them over there. It doesn’t look like it’s meant to be for season two, but I’m very sure season three and onwards we’ll see that Indian influence over there.”
AB de Villiers
He added:
“Not sure who we will get, but it’s definitely worth trying to get guys like MS and Virat perhaps playing in their final seasons there. We’ll look after them, you know,” he remarked.
AB de Villiers
AB De Villiers and Virat Kohli created a great team in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). They played well together, both during the game and behind the scenes. De Villiers stepped away from all forms of cricket in November 2021.
“I feel it’s the second-most popular league outside of the IPL” – AB de Villiers on SA20
When asked about SA20, the former Proteas skipper stated that it is the second-most popular competition after the IPL.
When asked whether he wanted any IPL-style innovations incorporated in SA20, De Villiers replied:
“I just think more entertainment, more dancing, more screaming, more singing. We’re on the right track. The quality of cricket is fantastic. The crowds are coming in. It’s now just to make it louder and better.”
AB de Villiers
The inaugural SA20 was won by Sunrisers Eastern Cape. In the final, they defeated Pretoria Capitals by four wickets at Johannesburg’s The Wanderers Stadium.
