New Delhi: Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers has said that Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik will bank on his nearly two decade experience to make an impact in his debut season in the SA20 2025. Following his decision to retire from international cricket and IPL in May, Karthik signed with Paarl Royals to participate in his first overseas franchise tournament.
The 39-year-old has played over 400 T20 matches for a span of 18 years, having accumulated 7407 runs in 356 innings at a strike rate of 136.96, including 34 half-centuries. He made 4842 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with his last appearance was for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Karthik hasn’t played any form of competitive cricket since his last IPL match against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024. De Villiers, who has played with Karthik at Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) and RCB in IPL, believes the Indian player’s experience of playing in South Africa will be enough for him to perform well.
“The last time I watched DK (Dinesh Karthik) play he was still in great form. Back-to-back seasons in RCB, he has been batting well, he’s been batting well and winning games at the backend. Don’t know how much cricket he’s been playing in last few months. With all experience he has and having played in South Africa before. I think he is going to do really well,” de Villiers responded to a News9 query in a virtual media interaction on Tuesday.
De Villiers also said that Paarl Royals will miss the services of Jos Buttler but feels there is a great balance in their current squad. He asked the David Miller-led team to improve their win record at their home venue after losing their last two fixtures in SA20 2024 season. The South African batting great rated Boland Park in resemblance to Chepauk Stadium in Chennai.
“I think they (Paarl Royals) are wonderful unit. Obviously, they will miss Jos Buttler, but looking at the rest of the squad, there is a lot of power and a lot of greats. There is great balance in he team. The thing they can improve is sort of making their home ground (Boland Park) in Paarl to make their fortress. I think they slipped last season and not being consistent enough and making full use of the wicket,” he said.
AB de Villiers on Kwena Maphaka
South African prodigious pacer Kwena Maphaka has made great in-roads to reach the international stage. At the age of 17, Maphaka was picked by Paarl Royals in SA20 2024. His talent took a notice to the global stage as five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians roped in his services for IPL 2024. He had a forgettable debut after conceding 66 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Hyderabad. He claimed the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal as his debut wicket.
“Kwena Maphaka had a taste of international cricket now. He played this last Test match in Cape Town. I think it was a great experience for him. He didn’t shoot the lights out, but he still bowled very well. Having had Rabada around him with a lot of experience, and Marco Jansen as well, I think he had a fantastic time out there. It will bode well for him in his future, especially this T20 tournament,” de Villiers said.
“He’s still got a lot to learn. I don’t think his time at Mumbai Indians wasn’t very pleasant. He didn’t play a lot, and when he did play, he ran into Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma in Hyderabad, where it was really tough going. But he’s a youngster that’s got a lot to learn, but with a lot of potential for the future. I think the key for him this season will not be to try and be the best and try and shoot lights out,” he added.
The former Proteas captain believes that Maphaka has lot to learn and the team management at the Paarl Royals will play a crucial role. He wants the teenager to understand his game along with strengths and weaknesses.
“More so, I think it will be for him to take learning from every experience and become better at that and become more consistent and to understand his game a bit better. He’s very, very young still. For me, it will be important for the coaching staff and the captain and the leaders around him to take care of him, protect him at all times, maybe even for the captain to bowl him in favourable conditions and favourable situations of the game,” he said.
“In that way, you can really look after him, not let him get too much scarring from the brutality of T20 cricket, but at the same time, learn his own game and get better, understand his own strengths and weaknesses. I think that will be the most important thing for this season. Having a long-term outlook, when he reaches a peak where he really understands his own game and then really starts winning games of cricket for his team,” he added.
AB de Villiers believes Dinesh Karthik’s extensive T20 experience will ensure a successful SA20 debut for Paarl Royals. He also commented on the team’s balance despite Jos Buttler’s absence and the potential of young fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, urging patience and careful development for the teenager. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
