Showing cricket's growing popularity, the inaugural season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) kicked off on Saturday (November 30) in Kirtupur, Kathmandu. The tournament has got a major boost as Indian cricket legend Shikhar Dhawan is taking part in the competition and playing for the Karnali Yaks.
Dhawan had announced his retirement from the sport earlier this year bringing an illustrous career to an end in which he played 34 Test matches, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is for India. He is also the second-highest run-getter in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Dhawan's last professional appearance came during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL).
Dhawan captained Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the first five matches of the season before an injury sidelined him for the entire tournament.
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Can Shikhar Dhawan Make An IPL Comeback?
While Dhawan is making a comeback to the cricket field after announcing his retirement, Dhawan cannot play in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In fact, Dhawan is now not eligible to play any form of domestic cricket in India and the national team too.
This is due to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rules, which state that no Indian player can play in an overseas league. Once a player has played in any T20 competition apart from the IPL and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), he is no longer eligible to play for the Indian team or play in any BCCI-organized organised competition. Hence, if any player wants to play in an overseas league, he has to retire from Indian cricket.
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In January 2025, Dinesh Karthik will play in the SA 20 for the Paarl Royals after retiring from Indian cricket earlier this year. Similarly, Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, and Ambati Rayudu played in the ILT20 after retirement.