Key points
- Indian players can play in the ILT20 only after retiring from all cricket in India: international, domestic and the IPL.
- Six Indian players have been signed by ILT20 teams since 2023, from Robin Uthappa and Yusuf Pathan to Dinesh Karthik and Piyush Chawla.
- No Indian national is in a Season 5 squad after the auction on 1 October 2026.
- Five of the six teams are owned by Indian companies, and Zee shows the league in India.
Yes, but only Indian players who have retired from all cricket in India. Active India players, domestic cricketers and IPL players cannot take part, because the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not let its players join overseas T20 leagues. Once a player has retired from international cricket, domestic cricket and the IPL, he is free to sign for an ILT20 team, and that is how Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik and Piyush Chawla came to play in the league.
What the BCCI rule says
The BCCI has not published a written rule, but its position has been reported the same way for years. ESPNcricinfo summed it up in 2024: “Only retired Indian players are allowed by BCCI to participate in overseas T20 leagues.” Reports by Wisden and ESPNcricinfo in 2023 made clear that the retirement has to cover all of Indian cricket: international matches, domestic cricket and the IPL.
The rule keeps India’s best players in the IPL and limits their workload. In December 2025, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal said there was no chance of top Indian players playing in overseas leagues soon, because of the amount of cricket they already play.
Waiting periods after retirement
In July 2023 the BCCI proposed a one-year waiting period before retired players could join overseas leagues. There is no sign it was enforced: Ambati Rayudu retired in May 2023 and played in the ILT20 in January 2024. In June 2026, reports said the BCCI was considering a five-year waiting period. No final decision has been announced.
Every Indian player in ILT20, season by season
| Season | Player | Team | How he joined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1, 2023 | Robin Uthappa | Dubai Capitals | Signed after retiring from all Indian cricket in September 2022 |
| Season 1, 2023 | Yusuf Pathan | Dubai Capitals | Signed after retiring; captained the team in its last league match |
| Season 2, 2024 | Ambati Rayudu | MI Emirates | Signed after retiring from Indian cricket in May 2023 |
| Season 3, 2025 | None | ||
| Season 4, 2025-26 | Dinesh Karthik | Sharjah Warriorz | Signed before the auction as a replacement for Kusal Mendis |
| Season 4, 2025-26 | Piyush Chawla | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Wildcard signing; took 4 for 27 against Gulf Giants |
| Season 4, 2025-26 | Akshay Wakhare | Dubai Capitals | Bought for $10,000 at the 2025 auction |
| Season 5, 2026 | None so far | Each team can still add one wildcard player |
Yusuf Pathan led Dubai Capitals in their final league match of 2023, after Rovman Powell, and Piyush Chawla was player of the match for his 4 for 27 against Gulf Giants on 18 December 2025. Unmukt Chand, who played for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in 2025-26, is not on this list because he now plays as a USA player.
Indian players at the ILT20 auctions
2025 auction
R Ashwin entered the first ILT20 auction on 1 October 2025 with a base price of $120,000, the highest of any player, but no team bought him. Siddarth Kaul, Ankit Rajpoot and Priyank Panchal were also in the auction and were not picked. Dubai Capitals bought Akshay Wakhare for $10,000. The ILT20 auction 2025 section of our auction page has the other headline prices.
2026 auction
Murugan Ashwin, a spinner who played for Punjab Kings and other IPL teams, was the only player registered as Indian among the entries for the auction on 1 October 2026, and he is not in any squad. Several players born in India were registered as UAE players instead. Former India Test wicketkeeper KS Bharat, UAE captain Harpreet Singh Bhatia and Akshdeep Nath were not bought, while Desert Vipers signed Vriitya Aravind for $70,000 and Sanjay Pahal for $22,000. See the ILT20 2026 auction results for every player sold.
India-born players who play for other countries
Some cricketers born in India play in the ILT20 for other countries, so they count as players from those countries, not as Indian players:
- UAE: Vriitya Aravind, who was born in Chennai, and Sanjay Pahal, who played domestic cricket for Haryana, are in the 2026 Desert Vipers squad. UAE captain Harpreet Singh Bhatia played for Madhya Pradesh before moving to the UAE.
- USA: Unmukt Chand, India’s former under-19 captain, played for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in 2025-26, and Shubham Ranjane joined Gulf Giants at the 2026 auction.
KS Bharat, who played seven Tests for India, has moved to Dubai to start a new career in UAE cricket. He played in the ILT20 Development Tournament for MI Emirates, but no team bought him at the auction. UAE players count towards the places every squad and playing XI must keep for UAE cricketers, as our guide to the ILT20 and its rules explains.
India’s other links to the ILT20
Five of the six teams are owned by Indian companies, and three of them also own IPL teams:
- Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Knight Riders Group, owners of Kolkata Knight Riders
- Dubai Capitals: GMR Group, co-owners of Delhi Capitals
- Gulf Giants: Adani Sportsline
- MI Emirates: Reliance Industries, owners of Mumbai Indians
- Sharjah Warriorz: Capri Global
The sixth team, Desert Vipers, is owned by Lancer Capital. Our ILT20 team owners guide has the full picture. In India, the league is shown on Zee’s TV channels and the Zee5 app: see where to watch ILT20.
Will active Indian stars ever play in ILT20?
Not under the current rules. Unless the BCCI changes its position, India’s current players will stay in the IPL, and only those who have retired from all Indian cricket can join the ILT20. Each team can still sign one wildcard player before Season 5 starts on 21 November 2026, so this page will be updated if an Indian player joins.
Indian players in ILT20: questions
Can Indian players play in ILT20?
Only those who have retired from all cricket in India, including domestic cricket and the IPL. Active Indian players cannot.
Why don’t active Indian players play in the ILT20?
The BCCI does not let its active players join overseas T20 leagues. Only retired Indian players can take part.
Which Indian players have played in ILT20?
Robin Uthappa and Yusuf Pathan in 2023, Ambati Rayudu in 2024, and Dinesh Karthik and Piyush Chawla in 2025-26. Dubai Capitals also signed Akshay Wakhare in 2025-26.
Are there any Indian players in ILT20 2026?
None of the Season 5 squads included an Indian national after the auction on 1 October 2026. Each team can still sign one wildcard player.
Did R Ashwin play in the ILT20?
No. He entered the 2025 auction with the highest base price, $120,000, but no team bought him.
Is Unmukt Chand an Indian player in ILT20?
No. He played for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in 2025-26 as a USA player.
Who was the only Indian in the ILT20 2026 auction?
Murugan Ashwin was the only player registered as Indian. He was not picked.
Are ILT20 teams owned by Indian companies?
Five of the six are: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriorz. Desert Vipers are owned by Lancer Capital.
Where can I watch ILT20 in India?
On Zee’s TV channels and the Zee5 app.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo on the BCCI rule, Wisden on the BCCI’s 2023 proposal, RevSportz on Arun Dhumal’s comments, ESPNcricinfo on India players in 2025-26, India TV, ESPNcricinfo on the 2025 auction, ESPNcricinfo on the 2026 auction, The National on KS Bharat, India.com on Murugan Ashwin.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@internationaleaguet20.com and we will correct it, noting the change at the top of the article.
