Dinesh Karthik is explosive, capable, and one of the best finishers in T20 cricket worldwide: Kumar Sangakkara

Post the SA20 Auctions 2024, held in Cape Town on October 1st, former Sri Lankan cricket legend and Rajasthan Royals' Director of Cricket, Kumar Sangakkara, spoke about how the auction went for the Paarl Royals and expressed his satisfaction with the players acquired. He added that they got their first-choice players and had only a couple of slots to fill in.

Sangakkara also spoke about the addition of Joe Root and Dinesh Karthik to the team, calling Karthik explosive and fantastic at the back end of an innings. He called Root an incredibly capable player who connects magnificently with the team players.

He said, "we pretty much got our first pick—our first choices. We only had a couple of slots to fill. The auction itself, as always with Graeme (Smith) at the head of it, was very enjoyable. But at the same time, I think all sides will be happy with how it was conducted, including the regulations and the players."

Discussing the replacements for Jos Buttler and the addition of Joe Root and Dinesh Karthik, Sangakkara emphasized their importance to the squad, saying, "It's very important. Joe Root is not just an incredibly experienced and capable player; what he adds to the team in terms of knowledge, experience, and how he invests himself into the team and connects with other players is magnificent.

I saw this first-hand when he joined us in the IPL. Dinesh Karthik, again, is fantastic at the back end of an innings. He's explosive, capable, and one of the best finishers in T20 cricket worldwide. His presence and experience are crucial. With Jos leaving, who typically excels at the top, we've managed to split that responsibility between two different players, both equally capable and devastating. I think we've got a better balance than we had last time."

When asked about young South African talent like Kwena Maphaka in the Paarl Royals squad, Sangakkara noted the importance of nurturing youth, and said, "We have Kwena, and now we have Lhuan-dre Pretorius as well. Even with the rookies, it's vital to have two aspirations: one is, of course, to win and have the best side performing at the highest level; the other is your service to the country you’re playing in—this being the SA20 league. The idea is to produce the best players possible, not just for your team, but also for the benefit of the national team. We have a similar philosophy in the IPL, where we focus on developing players for our benefit and the national team."

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When asked about the balance of the team post-auction, Sangakkara, said, "I think we have a really good balance. The only issue we always keep an eye on is the future tours program and how it impacts player recruitment and availability. It's really important going into an auction to de-risk yourself and minimize volatility. That’s what we always try to manage. But yes, I think with what we see in the future, you always have to account for sudden changes with international tours or unscheduled cricket. So we aim to have a squad that can fill any gaps if and when they arise."

Speaking about the Paarl Royals’ performance in both seasons, where they reached the playoffs, Sangakkara discussed what they need to push further, and said, "It's about recognizing the big moments and being ready to perform. With the South African contingent and David Miller as captain, who has been amazing for us, the key is getting the players to step up in crucial moments. Skill is just one part of the game; executing that skill under pressure when the tournament is on the line is the second part. That comes down to mental makeup and adaptability. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to convert those moments in the past, but I believe we are better equipped this year."

On his former Sri Lankan teammate, Mahela Jayawardene, who is part of MI Cape Town, Sangakkara commented on any extra competitiveness, said, "No, I don’t coach in the SA T20 league, and neither does Mahela. We now sit back and watch everyone else compete. But when you’ve played international sport, that competitive spirit never leaves. There's a bit of good-natured needling here and there, but at the end of the day, we leave it to the players to fight it out on the field. All we can do is ensure that the inputs we give—along with the staff and coaches—are of the highest quality. After that, it’s up to the players."