Dinesh Karthik is set to become the first Indian cricketer to participate in the SA20 tournament, joining the Paarl Royals for the 2025 season. This move comes after Karthik's retirement from Indian cricket, marking a new chapter in his illustrious career.
Karthik's new role with Paarl Royals
After retiring from Indian cricket earlier this year following his stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Dinesh Karthik has been signed by the Paarl Royals to fill the gap left by Jos Buttler, who will not be returning for the upcoming season. Karthik, who was recently announced as the new ambassador for the SA20 league alongside former South African cricketer AB de Villiers, brings a wealth of experience and skill to the team. In addition to his playing role, Karthik will also join RCB as their batting coach and mentor for the next IPL edition.
Impact of Karthik and Buttler's departure
Dinesh Karthik, with 401 T20 matches under his belt, has amassed 7,407 runs at an average of 27.13 and a strike rate of 136.96, including 34 half-centuries. His participation in the SA20 league is expected to boost the Paarl Royals’ performance after a challenging previous season. The Royals finished third in the table, winning five out of ten games, before being eliminated by the Jo’burg Super Kings in the playoffs.
“Hi everyone, Jos Buttler here. This is a message from all Paarl Royals fans. Disappointed that I would not be coming back to the SA20 this year. There are some England games on that’s where all my focus will be there. So yeah, it’s a shame that I won’t be coming back to the tournament,” Buttler said in a statement.
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Meanwhile, Jos Buttler, who was the Royals' top run-scorer last season with 408 runs from 11 matches and a high score of 70 not out, has decided to focus on international cricket, leading to his withdrawal from the SA20 tournament. Buttler's absence will be felt by the team, but Karthik's addition is anticipated to bring new energy and expertise to the squad as they aim for a more successful campaign.
