SA20 2026: Complete Squads Of All Six Teams After The Players’ Auction

The SA20 2026 auction, held on September 9, delivered high drama, record-breaking bids, and a slew of surprises as six franchises finalized their squads for the much-anticipated upcoming season. With over R129 million spent to fill 84 player slots, the auction set the tone for what promises to be another thrilling edition of South Africa’s premier T20 league.

Brevis Breaks the Bank: The Most Expensive SA20 Player Ever

The undisputed headline of the day was the stunning acquisition of young South African batting sensation Dewald Brevis. The Pretoria Capitals broke the bank to secure his services for a jaw-dropping R16.5 million (approx. INR 8.3 crore), making him the most expensive player in SA20 history.

Nicknamed “Baby AB” for his resemblance to AB de Villiers, Brevis is seen as one of the future torchbearers of South African cricket. The staggering bid not only shattered all previous records but signaled Pretoria’s aggressive intent for the 2026 season. Interestingly, this historic bid eclipsed a record that had just been set minutes earlier.

Aiden Markram Snapped Up for R14 Million by Durban Super Giants

Brevis’s record-setting moment came on the heels of another blockbuster buy—Aiden Markram. The former Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain was bought by the Durban Super Giants for R14 million. A proven T20 performer and a steady hand in the middle order, Markram’s acquisition underlines Durban’s strategy of blending leadership with dynamic batting.

Durban, who retained Noor Ahmad and signed marquee names like Sunil Narine and Jos Buttler in the pre-auction window, will look to build their squad around Markram’s anchor role.

Big Sales: Mulder, Burger Among Key Pickups

All-rounder Wiaan Mulder was another hot property, fetching R9 million from Joburg Super Kings. The Johannesburg franchise clearly values Mulder’s dual ability with bat and ball, especially given the fast-paced nature of SA20 surfaces.

Left-arm pacer Nandre Burger also saw high demand and went to the same franchise for R6.3 million, reinforcing Joburg’s pace attack alongside the experienced Reece Topley and Imran Tahir.

Shock Unsold Players: Bavuma, Anderson, Shakib Miss Out

In what came as a major surprise, several big-name players failed to attract a single bid. Among them were:

Temba Bavuma – South Africa’s current Test and ODI captain
James Anderson – Legendary English fast bowler
Shakib Al Hasan – Bangladesh’s premier all-rounder
Jason Roy – Aggressive English opener

These omissions, while surprising on the surface, reflect the strategic priorities of franchises. With teams seeking explosive finishers, pace-bowling depth, and versatile all-rounders, even big reputations couldn’t guarantee contracts.

Complete SA20 2026 Squads After Auction

1. Sunrisers Eastern Cape

Retained: Tristan Stubbs
Wild Card: Marco Jansen
Pre-signings: Jonny Bairstow, AM Ghazanfar, Adam Milne
At Auction: Quinton de Kock, Matthew Breetzke, Anrich Nortje, Senuran Muthusamy, Patrick Kruger, Lutho Sipamla, Mitchell van Buuren, Jordan Hermann, Beyers Swanepoel, James Coles, Chris Wood, Lewis Gregory, CJ King, JP King

2. Joburg Super Kings

Retained: Faf du Plessis
Wild Card: Donovan Ferreira
Pre-signings: James Vince, Akeal Hosein, Richard Gleeson
At Auction: Wiaan Mulder, Nandre Burger, Prenalen Subrayen, Dian Forrester, Steve Stolk, Janco Smit, Neil Timmers, Shubham Ranjane, Brandon King, Rilee Rossouw, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Imran Tahir, Reece Topley

3. MI Cape Town

Retained: Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Corbin Bosch
Wild Card: Kagiso Rabada
Pre-signings: Nicholas Pooran
At Auction: Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Dwaine Pretorius, Tristan Luus, Jason Smith, Tom Moores, Dane Piedt, Tian van Vuuren, Dan Lategan, Tabraiz Shamsi, Karim Janat, Jacques Snyman

4. Paarl Royals

Retained: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, David Miller, Bjorn Fortuin
Wild Card: Rubin Hermann
Pre-signings: Sikandar Raza, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
At Auction: Ottneil Baartman, Gudakesh Motie, Delano Potgieter, Kyle Verreynne, Keagan Lion-Cachet, Asa Tribe, Hardus Viljoen, Jacob Johannes Basson, Dan Lawrence, Eshan Malinga, Nqobani Mokoena, Vishen Halambage, Nqaba Peter

5. Durban Super Giants

Retained: Noor Ahmad
Wild Card: Heinrich Klaasen
Pre-signings: Sunil Narine, Jos Buttler
At Auction: Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Devon Conway, Gerald Coetzee, David Bedingham, Marques Ackermann, Eathan Bosch, Andile Simelane, Tony de Zorzi, Dayyaan Galiem, Taijul Islam, Evan Jones, Gysbert Wege, David Wiese, Daryn Dupavillon

6. Pretoria Capitals

Retained: Will Jacks
Wild Card: Andre Russell
Pre-signings: Sherfane Rutherford
At Auction: Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Dewald Brevis, Lizaad Williams, Craig Overton, Saqib Mahmood, Codi Yusuf, Connor Esterhuizen, Bryce Parsons, Gideon Peters, Junaid Dawood, Will Smeed, Meeka-eel Prince, Bayanda Majola, Wihan Lubbe, Sibonelo Makhanya

Strategic Takeaways from SA20 2026 Auction

Franchises prioritize form and fit over fame: The fact that players like Bavuma and Anderson went unsold speaks volumes about teams’ data-driven approach.
Rise of South African talent: Big-money deals for Brevis, Markram, Mulder, and Burger indicate strong backing for local core players.
All-rounders and finishers in demand: The versatility of players like Wiese, Mulder, and Russell makes them prized assets.
Emergence of the wild card factor: Wild cards like Andre Russell and Heinrich Klaasen provide a power punch without affecting auction strategies.

Looking Ahead: Will the Investments Pay Off?

With squads now finalized, the stage is set for SA20 2026 to be a blockbuster season. Teams have invested heavily in youth, experience, and T20 specialists, creating a potent mix of firepower and flair. As fans gear up for another season of thrilling cricket, all eyes will be on how these expensive buys and strategic omissions shape the tournament’s narrative.

Stay tuned for SA20 action starting early next year, as the franchises battle for supremacy in South Africa’s biggest T20 carnival yet.

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