Paarl Royals SA20 2025 Squad Preview

The Royals finished fourth in 2023 and third in 2024, but in both seasons they lost in the first playoff match. In 2024 the Royals scored well through Jos Buttler (391 runs) and David Miller (227 runs), but they lacked the support they needed to make a real impact. 

The Royals have been busy pre-season, with England legend Joe Root representing a brilliant acquisition for the season, while India’s Dinesh Karthik will help to beef up their batting, having scored 7407 runs in T20 cricket. The pair are joined by fellow English batter Sam Hain, Rubin Hermann from India, Sri Lanka’s Eshan Malinga, Kwena Maphaka, Rookie Dewan Marais, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Sri Lankan wildcard Dunith Wellalage.

Their pace attack is limited to the incredibly talented (but injury prone) Lungi Ngidi, who can be devastating in white-ball cricket) and the 18-year-old left-arm paceman Kwena Maphaka (recently capped as a Protea in white- and red-ball cricket). All-round Andile Phehlukwayo will add some power with the bat in the middle-order and is an effective death-ball bowler, and Dayyaan Galiem is a decent medium-quick, but the remaining seam options are young and inexperienced.

Their spin options are limited to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bjorn Fortuin and the exciting leggie Nqaba Peter. All in all, some fine bowling talent, but enough gaps to raise a flag of caution.

New to the squad are Rubin Hermann, English batter Sam Hain, Sri Lankans Dunith Wellalage and Eshan Malinga, along with Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

David Miller (captain, batter)

Keith Dudgeon (bowler)

Bjorn Fortuin (bowler)

Dayyaan Galiem (allrounder)

Sam Hain (batter)

Rubin Hermann (wicketkeeper-batter)

Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper-batter)

Eshan Malinga (bowler)

Kwena Maphaka (bowler)

Dewan Marais (rookie (batter))

Lungi Ngidi (bowler)

Nqaba Peter (bowler)

Andile Phehlukwayo (allrounder)

Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wicketkeeper-batter)

Joe Root (batter)

Mujeeb Ur Rahman (bowler)

Mitchell van Buuren (batter)

Dunith Wellalage (bowler)

Codi Yusuf (bowler)

11 January 2025, 13:00

Paarl Royals v Sunrisers Eastern Cape

Boland Park, Paarl

13 January 2025, 17:30 (D/N)

MI Cape Town v Paarl Royals

Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town

15 January 2025, 17:30 (D/N)

Paarl Royals v MI Cape Town

Boland Park, Paarl

18 January 2025, 13:00

Pretoria Capitals v Paarl Royals

Centurion Park, Centurion

20 January 2025, 17:30 (D/N)

Paarl Royals v Joburg Super Kings

Boland Park, Paarl

23 January 2025,17:30 (D/N)

Durban's Super Giants v Paarl Royals

Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban

25 January 2025, 17:30 (D/N)

Paarl Royals v Pretoria Capitals

Boland Park, Paarl

27 January 2025, 17:30 (D/N)

Paarl Royals v Durban's Super Giants

Boland Park, Paarl

30 January 2025, 17:30 (D/N)

Joburg Super Kings v Paarl Royals

Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

1 February 2025, 13:00

Sunrisers Eastern Cape v Paarl Royals

St George's Park Cricket Ground, Gqeberha

Play-offs: Qualifier 1

4 February 2025, 17:30 (D/N)

1st placed team v 2nd placed team

St George's Park Cricket Ground, Gqeberha

Play-offs: Eliminator

5 February 2025, 17:30 (D/N)

3rd placed team v 4th placed team

Centurion Park, Centurion

Play-offs: Qualifier 2

6 February 2025, 17:30 (D/N)

Loser of Qualifier 1 v  Winner of Eliminator

Centurion Park, Centurion

Final

8 February 2025, 17:30 (D/N)

Winner of Qualifier 1 v Winner of Qualifier 2

Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg