SA20 2027: Franchises publish pre-auction squads ahead of January season start
All six SA20 franchises have confirmed their player retentions and pre-auction signings ahead of the SA20 2027 season, which is due to begin on January 17, 2027. Teams have used the period before the October auction to reshape squads and register players for the upcoming campaign.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape enter the tournament as three-time champions and will defend their title in 2027. Franchises have completed retention and signing announcements, with Durban Super Giants and Paarl Royals making few changes while Joburg Super Kings, MI Cape Town, Pretoria Capitals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape plan further activity at the auction.
Joburg Super Kings released their captain Faf du Plessis, a decision that surprised many; du Plessis led the side for four seasons and is the franchise’s leading run-scorer in the tournament. MI Cape Town released Kieron Pollard, ending his long association with the MI family in the SA20.
Several other prominent players were released ahead of the auction, including Trent Boult, Jonny Bairstow, Will Smeed, Shai Hope and Rassie van der Dussen. Joe Root, who played for Pretoria Capitals, will return to the franchise for the coming season, while Sam Curran, Jason Holder and Phil Salt are listed among the key names expected to play.
The pre-auction lists published include: Mitchell Marsh, Quinton de Kock, Matthew Breetzke, James Coles, Lewis Gregory. Jordan Hermann, Rishad Hossain, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs. Patrick Kruger, CJ King, JP King, Adam Milne, Senuran Muthusamy. Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla, Mitchell van Buuren Jarren Bacher, Matthew de Villiers, Donovan Ferreira, Leus du Plooy. Akeal Hosein, Dian Forrester, Jason Holder, Duan Jansen, Janco Smit. Rilee Rossouw, Prenelan Subrayen, James Vince Rashid Khan (C), Nicholas Pooran, Corbin Bosch, Will Jacks. Reeza Hendricks, Thomas Kaber, George Linde, Tristan Luus, Dane Piedt. Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tiaan van Vuuren Marques Ackerman, Jos Buttler, Gerald Coetzee, Devon Conway, Sam Curran, Tony de Zorzi. Daryn Dupavillon, Simon Harmer, David Bedingham. Ethan Bosch, Evan Jones, Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone, Aiden Markram, Sunil Narine. Kwena Maphaka, Andile Simelane, Kyle Simmonds, Kane Williamson Ottneil Baartman, JJ Basson, Rubin Hermann, Dan Lawrence, Keagan Lion-Cachet, Bjorn Fortuin, David Miller, Nqobani Mokoena, Azmatullah Omarzai. Sikandar Raza, Gudakesh Motie, Delano Potgieter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Joe Root, Asa Tribe. Thomas Rew, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Kyle Verreynne, Hardus Viljoen Dewald Brevis, Phil Salt, Wihan Lubbe, Connor Esterhuizen. Keshav Maharaj, Bayanda Majola, Lungi Ngidi, Bryce Parsons, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford. Gideon Peters, Lizaad Williams, Matt Short, Codi Yusuf
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Karan Rawat is the article’s author; he is described as a seasoned cricket writer with over 5 years of experience covering the sport and producing match reports, analysis and player profiles.
The SA20 auction is scheduled to take place on October 7, 2026.