NewKerala.com

Key Points

Siddharth Kaul is the only Indian male cricketer registered for the BBL 2025 draft, highlighting India’s limited presence in overseas leagues. James Anderson, at 42, could become the oldest overseas BBL player if picked. The draft features a global pool, including 178 English and 74 Pakistani players. Meanwhile, Shikha Pandey and Jemimah Rodrigues lead India’s representation in the WBBL draft.

Key Points: Siddharth Kaul Only Indian in 600-Player BBL 2025 Draft

  • Siddharth Kaul only Indian in 600+ BBL draft registrations
  • James Anderson, 42, seeks BBL return after T20 Blast success
  • 178 English, 74 Pakistani players also in draft pool
  • Shikha Pandey, Jemimah Rodrigues feature in WBBL draft
2 min read

Siddharth Kaul lone Indian among 600-plus that register for BBL 2025 draft

Pacer Siddharth Kaul is the lone Indian in the BBL draft, while James Anderson eyes a historic T20 comeback at 42.

"Kaul stands alone as India’s sole male representative in the 2025 BBL draft, underlining the rarity of Indian participation in overseas T20 leagues. – Article"

New Delhi, June 17

Pacer Siddharth Kaul has emerged as the only Indian player in the men’s list of over 600 cricketers who have registered for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) draft, scheduled to be held on June 19.

The draft, announced by Cricket Australia, features a global pool of T20 talent, with 178 English players, 74 from Pakistan, 42 from the West Indies, and 13 from Sri Lanka also throwing their hats into the ring.

Kaul, a former India international and seasoned IPL campaigner, will be hoping to revive his T20 fortunes by securing a contract in Australia’s premier franchise league. He stands alone as India’s sole male representative in the 2025 BBL draft, underlining the rarity of Indian participation in overseas T20 leagues.

One of the most high-profile names in the draft, however, is legendary England fast bowler James Anderson, who has made headlines by registering for the BBL draft at the age of 42. Having recently returned to T20 cricket after an 11-year hiatus, Anderson impressed in the Vitality T20 Blast for Lancashire, returning figures of 3 for 17 and finishing with 10 wickets in just four games.

If picked, Anderson could become the oldest overseas player ever to feature in the BBL and the second-oldest in tournament history after Brad Hogg.

This isn’t Anderson’s first attempt at franchise league participation this year. He had earlier registered for both the IPL 2025 mega auction and The Hundred draft but went unsold on both occasions. However, with his recent form and legendary status, franchises may be more inclined to take a punt on the veteran this time around.

In the women’s draft, India will be more visibly represented, with Shikha Pandey, Yastika Bhatia, and Jemimah Rodrigues entering the fray for the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) draft. The Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers will have the first picks in the BBL and WBBL drafts, respectively, both of which will span four rounds per team.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Surprised to see only Siddharth Kaul representing India! Our domestic circuit has so much talent that could benefit from overseas exposure. BCCI should reconsider their restrictive policies - other countries' players gain so much from multi-league experience. 🇮🇳🏏
P
Priya M.
Good to see our women cricketers getting more opportunities in WBBL! Jemimah and Shikha have been brilliant in recent matches. Hope they get picked by good teams. As for Kaul, he's a decent bowler but needs to work on his death bowling - that's where he struggles most.
A
Arjun S.
James Anderson at 42? What a legend! Shows age is just a number when you have skill and fitness. Meanwhile, our Indian fast bowlers retire much earlier. Maybe we need to rethink how we manage our pace resources. #RespectTheVeterans
S
Sneha R.
Honestly, not many Indian male players even try for overseas leagues because they know BCCI won't allow them to play. But look at how Pakistani players benefit from global exposure! Our board needs to be more flexible for players who aren't regulars in national team.
V
Vikram J.
Kaul was brilliant in 2018 IPL but lost his way. Hope he gets picked and regains form. Australian pitches could suit his style. Meanwhile, 178 English players registered shows how their county system develops depth. We need to strengthen our domestic cricket too!
N
Neha P.
The women's representation makes me proud! Yastika and Jemimah are future stars. Hope they get good contracts. As for men's cricket, maybe having fewer Indians in BBL is good - keeps IPL special and protects player workload. Too much cricket isn't good either. 🤔

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50