3 former PBKS players who are part of Paarl Royals for SA20 2025 ft. Dinesh Karthik

The Paarl Royals got off to a scintillating win in SA2025, beating the Sunrisers Eastern Cape by nine wickets at Boland Park on Saturday, January 11. They successfully gunned down 176 runs with eight balls to spare.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman removed both openers in the fifth over to give the Royals an excellent start. However, the Sunrisers Eastern Cape posted a challenging total, thanks to an explosive knock from skipper Aiden Markram. The right-handed batter slammed 82 off 49 balls to help the team post 175/5 in their 20 overs.

In reply, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Joe Root stitched together a 132-run partnership in just 13 overs to set the platform for the home side. Pretorius missed a well-deserved hundred by three runs before Joe Root (62*) and skipper David Miller (17*) took the Paarl Royals home comfortably.

A few former Punjab Kings (PBKS) cricketers starred in the win for the Royals. On that note, look at three former Punjab players in the current Paarl Royals squad in SA2025.

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#1 David Miller

Veteran South African batter David Miller is one of the best finishers in the shortest format of the game. His ability to absorb pressure and finish games stands second to none.

Miller, who is leading the Paarl Royals in SA2025, is a veteran IPL player who has represented three teams in the past. He began his IPL career with the Punjab Kings (previously known as Kings XI Punjab) and spent eight seasons there. The southpaw has amassed 1850 in 79 games, including a century and eight fifties.

David Miller has also represented the Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans in the IPL. He played a key role in the Titans winning the title in their debut season in IPL 2022.

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#2 Mujeeb Ur Rahman

The Afghanistan-born mystery spinner first starred in the Big Bash League. He was then snapped up by the Punjab Kings in IPL 2018. Mujeeb Ur Rahman proved his credentials in his maiden IPL season, picking up 14 wickets in 11 matches with the best figures of 3/27.

Overall, Mujeeb has scalped 17 wickets in 18 matches for the Kings in IPL. He last featured in IPL 2021 for the SunRisers Hyderabad. However, his stock went down, and was eventually not considered by the franchises in the cash-rich league.

Mujeeb is a part of the Paarl Royals squad in SA2025 and picked up two wickets in their first game of the tournament.

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#3 Dinesh Karthik

The veteran wicketkeeper-batter is a well-traveled man and has represented six franchises in the IPL. After beginning his IPL career with the Delhi Capitals (formerly known as Delhi Daredevils), Dinesh Karthik moved to Punjab in IPL 2011.

The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer represented the Kings XI Punjab in a single season, aggregating 282 runs in 14 matches at an average of 25.63, including a half-century. Overall, Karthik has featured in 257 IPL matches, amassing 4842 runs, including 22 fifties. He also has 145 catches to his name.

Karthik made his SA debut for the Paarl Royals on Saturday. He grabbed a catch and didn't have to bat as the Royals secured an easy win over the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.