SA20 2025-26 Auctions Recap: Dewald Brevis Breaks Records, Big Names Go Unsold

The SA20 2025-26 Auction, ahead of the 4th season, delivered high drama, bold bids, and a few shock snubs as franchises reshaped their rosters ahead of the upcoming season. Held in Johannesburg, the auction saw ‘Baby AB’ Dewald Brevis headline proceedings with a record-breaking signing worth R16.5 million, approximately ₹72.6 lakh INR, by the Pretoria Capitals, making him the most expensive player in SA20 history.

SA20 Auctions: Big-Money Signings

The Capitals entered with a purse of R32.5 million and spent over half on Brevis alone. The bidding war began with Joburg Super Kings and Paarl Royals, but it was Pretoria who eventually secured the 22-year-old batting sensation.

Other marquee signings included

• Aiden Markram – R14 million (~₹61.6 lakh) to Durban Super Giants
• Wiaan Mulder – R9 million (~₹39.6 lakh) to Joburg Super Kings
• Gerald Coetzee – R7.4 million (~₹32.5 lakh) to Durban Super Giants
• Nandre Burger – R6.3 million (~₹27.7 lakh) to Joburg Super Kings
• Matthew Breetzke – R6.1 million (~₹26.9 lakh) to Sunrisers Eastern Cape

The auction also saw intense bidding for the wicket-keeper batter Kyle Verreynne, whose price jumped from R200,000 to R2.3 million (~₹10.1 lakh) in a single bid, showcasing the unpredictable nature of SA20’s auction dynamics.

SA20 Auctions: Big Names Who Went Unsold

Despite the excitement, several high-profile players failed to attract bids:

• Tabraiz Shamsi – South Africa’s premier left-arm chinaman, surprisingly overlooked despite having a decent run in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League 2025.
• James Anderson – The legendary English pacer, aged 43, found no takers. The veteran played in the Hundred 2025 for Manchester Originals but wasn’t picked in SA20.
• Temba Bavuma – South Africa’s Test and ODI captain, snubbed for the second consecutive season. Bavuma’s strike rate in the shortest format of the game has always been in question.

Franchises leaned heavily on youth and versatility. All-rounders and domestic talents fetched premium prices, while older internationals and format specialists were largely ignored. The Right To Match (RTM) card added strategic depth, with teams like Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Paarl Royals using it to retain key players.

SA20 2026 Final Squads

Here’s the full breakdown of SA20 2026 squads, including retained players and new signings post-auction.

Pretoria Capitals

After securing Dewald Brevis, the biggest-ever acquisition in SA20 history, the Capitals look strong enough to lift their first title. Besides Brevis, the English duo of pacer Saqib Mahmood and opening batter Will Smeed

• New Signings: Dewald Brevis (R16.5 million ≈ ₹72.6 lakh), Connor Esterhuizen, Sibonelo Makhanya, Will Smeed, Meeka-Eel Prince, Craig Overton, Saqib Mahmood, Gideon Peters, Junaid Dawood, Bayanda Majola, Bryce Parsons
• Retained: Andre Russell (WILDCARD), Will Jacks, Sherfane Rutherford, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Lizaad Williams, Codi Yusuf, Wihan Lubbe

Joburg Super Kings

The Joburg Super Kings’ auction’s talking points were the acquisition of all-rounder Wiaan Mulder and left-arm pacer Nandre Burger.

• New Signings: Wiaan Mulder (R9 million ≈ ₹39.6 lakh), Nandre Burger (R6.3 million ≈ ₹27.7 lakh), Dian Forrester, Steve Stolk, Janco Smit, Neil Timmers, Shubham Ranjane, Brandon King, Reece Topley, Imran Tahir
• Retained: Faf du Plessis (c), Donovan Ferreira (WILDCARD), James Vince, Akeal Hosein, Richard Gleeson, Prenelan Subrayen, Rilee Rossouw, Rivaldo Moonsamy

Sunrisers Eastern Cape

The 2-time champions couldn’t get hold of their skipper, Aiden Markram. However, the additions of Matthew Breetzke and Afghan’s spinner AM Ghazanfar have made the squad look balanced.

• New Signings: Matthew Breetzke (R6.1 million ≈ ₹26.9 lakh), AM Ghazanfar, Adam Milne, Senuran Muthusamy, Patrick Kruger, Jordan Hermann, James Coles, Chris Wood, Lewis Gregory, Mitchell van Buuren, Beyers Swanepoel, CJ King, JP King
• Retained: Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen (WILDCARD), Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla, Jonny Bairstow

Durban Super Giants

Durban Giants hit the jackpot by acquiring SA20’s most successful skipper, Aiden Markram. Along with Markram, pacer Gerald Coetzee and Blackcaps opener Devon Conway have also been selected.

• New Signings: Aiden Markram (R14 million ≈ ₹61.6 lakh), Gerald Coetzee (R7.4 million ≈ ₹32.5 lakh), Devon Conway, David Bedingham, Marques Ackermann, Eathan Bosch, Andile Simelane, Tony de Zorzi, Dayyaan Galiem, Taijul Islam, Evan Jones, Gysbert Wege, David Wiese, Daryn Dupavillon
• Retained: Heinrich Klaasen (WILDCARD), Jos Buttler, Sunil Narine, Noor Ahmad, Kwena Maphaka

MI Cape Town

The reigning champions’ biggest acquisition in this auction is the powerhouse from West Indies, Nicholas Pooran. Besides Pooran, local stalwarts Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, and Dwaine Pretorius have been selected as well.

• New Signings: Nicholas Pooran, Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Dwaine Pretorius, Tristan Luus, Jason Smith, Tom Moores, Dane Piedt, Tiaan van Vuuren, Dan Lategan, Karim Janat, Jacques Snyman
• Retained: Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada (WILDCARD)

Paarl Royals

Kyle Verrynne was the biggest acquisition for the Paarl Royals in this year’s auction. Besides Verrynne, Eshan Malinga and Dan Lawrence are among the big names acquired by the Royals.

• New Signings: Kyle Verreynne (R2.3 million ≈ ₹10.1 lakh), Asa Tribe, Dan Lawrence, Eshan Malinga, Vishen Halambage, Nqaba Peter, Keagan Lion-Cachet, Hardus Viljoen, Jacob Johannes Basson, Nqobani Mokoena
• Retained: David Miller (c), Rubin Hermann (WILDCARD), Bjorn Fortuin, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sikandar Raza, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Gudakesh Motie, Ottneil Baartman, Delano Potgieter

When will SA20 2026 start?

The electrifying 4th edition of SA20 is set to get underway from December 26, 2025, with a blockbuster Boxing Day opener between the reigning champions MI Cape Town and Durban’s Super Giants at Newlands in Cape Town. The tournament will be streaming live on JioHotstar, and the TV streaming will be available across the Star Sports Network channels.