SA20 Graeme Smith has hailed the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the best league in franchise cricket, from which SA20 can ‘only learn’ and improve.
The third season of SA20 is underway, showcasing young talent in South Africa and Smith aspires to make the league the second-best after the IPL. He appreciates IPL’s support in developing SA20, aiming for its influence in cricket.
“BCCI and IPL have been amazing in supporting us and guiding us in every decision we have made. IPL is the leader in franchise cricket by far, and we can only learn from them,” Smith told PTI.
Ahead of the SA20 2025 season, IPL veteran Dinesh Karthik joined Paarl Royals and became the first Indian player to participate in SA20. However, the team fell short in the second qualifier, losing to the two-time champions, Surisers Eastern Cape in Centurion.
When asked about more Indian players joining the league in the future, Smith expressed enthusiasm, stating they would welcome them if available.
“We always said that we have worked with the BCCI to see what their views are for the future. South African cricket loves Indian cricketers. It is always a highlight for us to watch the talent of the Indian team whenever they come here to play,” said Graeme Smith.
“If the Indian players were available, we would love to have them here. But nothing of that sort is in the pipeline. We always have conversations and probably at the IPL time I will be there in India. We have a very good relationship with them.
“I was lucky that I played a couple of years in the IPL. We won the first edition with Rajasthan Royals in 2008.”
MI Cape Town and Sunrisers Eastern Cape will be squaring off in the finals of the SA20. “When the team told me that the second qualifier was the 100th match, I got a bit emotional because of the amount of hard work that has gone into getting to the SA20 where it is now.
“I started to reflect on so many things, like signing our first employee, meeting the team for the first time, the first auction, and the performances we have seen over the last three years have been incredible,” Graeme Smith concluded.
