For which team will Dinesh Karthik play in the SA20 2025?

Dinesh Karthik will play in an overseas T20 league for the first time in his career.

The third season of SA20, South Africa’s premier T20 league, is scheduled to start on January 9, 2025. It will feature 34 games – 30 league matches followed by Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and Final.

The tournament has earned its reputation as one of the biggest T20 leagues around the globe with back-to-back successful seasons in 2023 and 2024. While Sunrisers Eastern Cape were crowned champions in both seasons, the league has delivered on its promise with thrilling, nail-biting encounters.

In an interesting development, Indian wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik is set to participate in the league for the first time in his career. His inclusion will make him the first Indian player to take part in the SA20 competition.

For which team will Dinesh Karthik play in the SA20 2025?

Dinesh Karthik will play for Paarl Royals in the SA20 2025. The 39-year-old was roped in by the Royals in August 2024 as one of their overseas players ahead of the auction.

The former India wicket-keeper has scored 7407 runs in 401 T20s in his career at a strike rate of 137.

Karthik has been an iconic figure in the Indian Premier League (IPL), representing six different franchises: Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Lions, and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

He also possesses leadership experience, having captained Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.

Karthik retired from international cricket, domestic cricket in India and the IPL following the IPL 2024 season.

At Paarl Royals, he will take on the finisher’s role alongside captain David Miller. Paarl Royals will start their campaign against defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape on January 11 at Boland Park, Paarl.

He featured in 180 international matches for India from 2004 to 2022. He was part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup-winning squad and 2013 Champions Trophy-winning squad. He was a regular feature throughout the IPL history, being one of the few players who played in all IPL seasons so far. He won the IPL 2013 trophy with Mumbai Indians.

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