NEW DELHI: Veteran Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has etched his name in history as the first Indian cricketer to take part in the SA20, South Africa’s premier T20 tournament.
With Paarl Royals gearing up for their season opener against Sunrisers Eastern Cape on Saturday, anticipation is building.
The Royals are set to make their first appearance this season, while Sunrisers will look to bounce back from a crushing 97-run defeat in their opening game.
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Sharing insights on his experience, Dinesh Karthik couldn’t help but gush about the team environment and the legendary Joe Root, his teammate at the Royals.
“He (Joe Root) is a very warm person, a good sense of humour, he’s a very team guy,” Karthik said. “Just to keep everybody very inclusive and feel very much, you just walk around the dressing room, you’ll not realize there’s a player who scored 10,000 test runs out there. That’s the magic of competitions like SA20, where budding players can learn directly from cricket’s greats.he’s just so chill with a lot of the young boys and you can see a lot of the boys just flocking to him and speaking to him about the sport.”
“Joe Root has been nothing but special so far in this group. I’m interacting with him for the first time on a personal basis and being on the same team as well. I’m really excited to be out here with him,” he added.
Karthik also spoke about the growing allure of SA20 in India, explaining, “I think SA20 is one of the strongest competitions, attracting large crowds and featuring top players from the ICC rankings. All of this has already drawn significant attention from cricket fans in India, and if I can contribute to that in any way, I’ll be more than happy.”
Describing his squad, Karthik noted, “We have a diverse group—veterans like Root, David Miller, and myself alongside young prodigies like Kwana and Luandre, who are brimming with potential. This mix of experience and fresh talent makes the setup truly exciting. I’m confident the youngsters will make a mark here, competing with the best in the world.”
Reflecting on South Africa’s cricket trajectory, Karthik remarked, “We have some seriously experienced players, like myself, Joe Root, and David Miller, alongside some incredibly young prospects such as Kwena Maphaka and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who are just 17 or 18 years old. There’s a lot of experience, but also a fair amount of inexperience, and I hope we strike a good balance and achieve something truly special.”
