IPL is the most glamorous T20 league in the world for decades as it has been providing international exposure and big money to the players. But, getting into an IPL team at a time when age catches up and form dips is not an easy task. Recently, several big names did not get sold in the IPL 2025 mega auction, and this shocked fans. Although their careers are done and dusted in IPL, they will have the best of moments to cherish for SA20. And since every team in SA20 is owned by a franchise of IPL, fans would love to watch them on screens as well.

Dinesh Karthik, Kane Williamson, and Jonny Bairstow are the biggest names that signed up with SA20. So let us find out how these three went through this journey and their contribution to this league.

Dinesh Karthik: From IPL Finisher to SA20 Pioneer

The experienced finisher and one of IPL's most trusted finishers in Dinesh Karthik quit all forms of cricket last year. Even with such a rich experience, he could not attract bidders at the mega auction of the IPL. Yet, Karthik made history for himself since he became the first Indian cricketer who played in the foreign T20 league and currently represents Paarl Royals in SA20.

England's Joe Root, part of cricket's "Fab Four" and the only one of them who never played in the IPL, will join him at Paarl Royals. Captain David Miller was sanguine about the new signings, saying they strengthen the batting lineup of the team.

Jonny Bairstow and Kane Williamson: New Chapters in SA20

Explosive batsman Jonny Bairstow, from England, did not feature in the list of takers in the IPL mega auction. Former New Zealand skipper and former skipper of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kane Williamson, who has a base price of ₹2 crore, has not been snapped up either. Williamson, who played a couple of games for Gujarat Titans in the last edition before he suffered a knee injury, will look to revive his T20 career in the SA20.

Bairstow will feature for the Joburg Super Kings under Faf du Plessis, and Williamson has been with the Durban Super Giants, who have announced Keshav Maharaj as their captain. Fans will keep fingers crossed as these veteran players display their fireworks to add something good to SA20.

SA20: A Playground for Reinvention

The SA20 league will provide a chance for experienced cricketers to play in the field and make their presence felt because they want to prove their abilities once again at the international level. Given that all the teams are owned by franchises from the IPL, the league enables continuity but gives the cricketers a fresh outlet to relaunch themselves.

The SA20 is so exciting for any cricket fan who wants a thriller mix of old and new, proving that just as the story closes in some other place in the IPL it will go on.