39-year-old Dinesh Karthik became the first Indian to play in the SA20 league after making his debut for Paarl Royals. The former India wicketkeeper and batter has garnered a lot of attention ever since he announced his intention to play in the league. Fans were quick to tune in and see how the 39-year-old fares in his maiden appearance.
Commentator Mike Haysman asked Dinesh Karthik what made him play in the tournament. The 39-year-old replied “A couple of reasons, one I genuinely believe this is the best comp (competition) after the IPL. I wanted to play real competitive cricket and I don’t think there is a better tournament than this”
The former India star also added, “I always wanted to be part of the Royals set-up. I always heard good things a lot of friends have played for that set-up, so when the offer came along, I was more than happy to accept it”. Mike Haysman also asked Karthik to give his views on the talent in South Africa that he had seen so far.
Replying to this, Karthik said “Absolutely, lot of good talent out here. The first couple of days I came here I was pretty amazed at how much talent is out here. Couple of the guys not playing as well. Good squad, good tournament, really looking forward”. The short conversation provided a key insight into how much SA20 has grown in the last two years.
Also Watch: Dinesh Karthik marks his SA20 debut with sharp catch to dismiss Zak Crawley
Dinesh Karthik heaps praise on Kwena Maphaka
One of the biggest names as far as the local talent is concerned is none other than Kwena Maphaka. The left-arm seamer has given the world proof of his talents with the ball after making his international debut against Pakistan. Speaking to CRICBUZZ, Karthik who is a teammate of Maphaka at Paarl Royals called the youngster a special talent.
Karthik said “He's a special player. You can see that in the way he bowls. He's got the skill sets to be the superstar that I expect him to be. South Africa have found a gem, and they need to protect him. He needs to learn how to take care of his body.”
The former India star also added “The one thing that will happen as he grows is he could drop pace and he doesn't want to do that. So, how he takes care of his body is important. But mentally, every time he gets on the park, it should be about doing everything possible to win the game for the team."
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