The Paarl Royals have made a significant move by signing former England captain Joe Root as one of their new overseas players for the upcoming SA20 2025 season. Root is set to make his SA20 debut in the next edition of the league, bringing his extensive experience to the team.
This isn’t Root’s first association with a Royals franchise. Back in 2023, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) offered him his first IPL contract. Root played three matches for RR, scoring 10 runs. Although RR did not retain him for the 2024 season, he will now don the Paarl Royals jersey for SA20 2025.
Announcing his arrival, Paarl posted an edited picture of Root with the text ‘Royal Again’. The social media admin captioned the post:
“From England to South Africa, cricket’s favorite reverse scoop is coming home.”
Despite not being a first-choice pick for England’s T20I team—his last appearance in a T20I match for England was on May 5, 2019, against Pakistan at Sophia Gardens—Root’s vast T20 experience is expected to be a valuable asset for the Royals.
Kumar Sangakkara Welcomes Joe Root to Paarl Royals
Royals’ Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara praised Joe Root and expressed his excitement about the new addition to the team. Speaking in a media release, Sangakkara said:
“We all know what a phenomenal player Joe Root is, and to have him back at the Royals is a great feeling.
“As we saw during IPL 2023 and have also seen over the years, he is also a great team man and has the ability to help his teammates develop both on and off the field. We are looking forward to using his expertise, his personality, his brains, and also his performances on the field to strive towards a successful SA20 season in 2025,” he added.
SA20 Season 2025: What to Expect
SA20 will kick off on January 9, 2025, in South Africa. The Paarl Royals have yet to qualify for the final in the league’s two seasons so far. With Joe Root’s addition, fans and analysts alike will be keen to see if his presence can turn the team’s fortunes around and lead them to their first final appearance.
Joe Root’s signing is a bold statement by the Paarl Royals, reflecting their ambition and commitment to success in the SA20 league.
