Dinesh Lad on Jason Rowles' SA20 Jackpot: ‘I Am Out of Words’, says Coach After ₹1.70 Crore Deal | Exclusive

South African youth cricketer Jason Rowles has emerged as a massive buy in the SA20 auction, as the southpaw secured a gigantic 2.9 million South African Rand (around Rs 1.70 crore) deal in this season's auction.

Rowles, who had a base price of 200k Rand, was sold 1350 per cent higher than his price by Joburg Super Kings. The 18-year-old left-handed batter has been a sensation for the Proteas, and after some stellar outings, he now finds himself among the big guns.

Who is Jason Rowles?

For the uninitiated, Jason Rowles is an 18-year-old South African all-rounder who has emerged as one of the country's promising young cricket talents. Born on April 14, 2008, in Johannesburg, Rowles is a left-handed batter and slow left-arm orthodox bowler. He represents South Africa Under-19 and South Africa Emerging. At the 2026 U-19 World Cup, he impressed with centuries against Tanzania and Australia, while also scoring 98 against Afghanistan. He recently captained South Africa U-19 and smashed a 201 against England U-19, highlighting his growing reputation.

The Role of Dinesh Lad

Jason Rowles' rapid rise has an India connection, with renowned Mumbai coach Dinesh Lad playing an important role in his development. Rowles spent a month training in India under Lad, the coach best known for mentoring Rohit Sharma during his formative years.

The intervention was not simply about adding more runs to Rowles' game. One of Lad's most significant technical changes was altering Rowles' grip, which the youngster says gave him greater power. Rowles also worked extensively on his basics, balance, footwork and shot selection during his stint with Lad.

"He helped me change my grip a bit. He noticed something quite small, just the way I hold the bat, like the simplest of things. I was there for about three weeks, and we trained about four hours every day," Rowles said to MyKhel in an exclusive conversation earlier this year.

That small adjustment became part of a broader learning experience for Rowles, who was able to work closely with a coach experienced in developing elite batting talent.

Dinesh Lad Reacts to Rowles' SA20 Windfall

MyKhel caught up with Dinesh Lad after his disciple's massive windfall in the SA20 auction, and the veteran coach says he is proud of the youngster.

"I am so happy now. The lad came to me, and I tweaked something, and the way he has emerged is amazing. I am out of words. I had a talk with his dad earlier today, and he said to me that 'after coming to you, his cricket changed,'" Dinesh Lad says to MyKhel in an exclusive interview.

"As I was watching the auction, I was feeling proud. Being a South African, the way he has spoken about me is quite rewarding. It's a great feeling for me that a non-Indian player has acknowledged me, which is part of such a precious moment for me. For an Indian coach, it is such a big thing," he added, stressing that the teenager can soon break into the senior South Africa squad as well.

Dinesh Lad has been honing his coaching skills at Swami Vivekananda School in Borivali. The former coach of Rohit Sharma has also adopted 26 future prospects under the wing of Dinesh Lad Foundation.

Lad shaped the early days of Rohit Sharma as a cricketer and was also the driving factor behind Rohit's batting. He also coached the likes of Shardul Thakur.