The milestone fifth season of the SA20 is set to get bigger and better, with T20 superstars Mitchell Marsh, Joe Root, Sam Curran, Jason Holder and Phil Salt joining the fold as the six franchises confirmed their pre-auction retentions and signings ahead of the new edition. Durban's Super Giants and Paarl Royals are the only two teams to have completed their 19-player squads before the auction, with 19 slots still available across the remaining four teams. Mitchell Marsh, Australia's T20 captain and part of the Leeds side in the Sunrisers universe in The Hundred, is in line to make his SA20 debut for the three-time champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Marsh will join the likes of Quinton de Kock, Matthew Breetzke, Jordan Hermann and captain Tristan Stubbs in a powerful batting line-up, set to enthral the loyal St George's Park crowd. Further north, Sam Curran, who represented MI Cape Town in the first two seasons, will don the Durban's Super Giants colours, where he will team up with his England teammate Jos Buttler. Joe Root, England's returning Test captain, who formed a formidable opening partnership with young Lhuan-dre Pretorius for the Paarl Royals a couple of seasons ago, returns to Boland Park for another season in pink. The runners-up, Pretoria Capitals, have received a significant boost to their top order with the additions of Phil Salt and Australian international Matt Short. Salt, who has represented the Capitals previously, will reunite with Short at the top of the order, with the pair currently opening together for Welsh Fire in The Hundred. The duo adds further firepower to a batting line-up featuring Dewald Brevis, Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell and last season's breakout star Connor Esterhuizen. England all-rounder Will Jacks, who enjoyed three sensational seasons with the Capitals, has moved down south to Cape Town to complete the trio of MI franchises, being part of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL and currently playing for the MI London setup in The Hundred. "Season 5 is shaping up to be our strongest yet," SA20 League Commissioner Graeme Smith said. "Bringing in a player of Mitchell Marsh's calibre alongside the class of Joe Root, Sam Curran and Phil Salt shows the growing pull of our league on the global stage. What excites me most is seeing that quality alongside South Africa's international and domestic stars at the peak of their powers." "The franchises head into the auction with the majority of their squads already locked in, which speaks volumes about the stability and consistency we have built. This sets us up for a highly competitive Season 5," Smith concluded. On the other hand, MLC-winning captain Jason Holder will don the yellow of the Joburg Super Kings, who are on the hunt for a new captain after parting ways with Faf du Plessis, who led the side in its first four seasons. Among the other prominent releases is England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow, who formed a formidable opening partnership with Quinton de Kock for the Sunrisers. MI Cape Town have also parted ways with long-serving players Trent Boult, Rassie van der Dussen and Kieron Pollard, while the likes of Wiaan Mulder and Nandre Burger, who were marquee signings for the Super Kings, will also enter the auction pool. The Super Kings and MI Cape Town will be the busiest teams at the auction, needing to sign seven and six players respectively, while the Capitals have five vacant slots to fill. All six teams have filled their overseas pre-signing slots, while the Super Kings will be eligible for a wildcard pick. Season 5 of the SA20 gets underway on Sunday, January 17, at St George's Park, with the Sunrisers taking on the Capitals in a repeat of last season's final. The competition culminates with the Final at Newlands on Sunday, February 21.

Durban's Super Giants and Paarl Royals are the only two teams to have completed their 19-player squads before the auction, with 19 slots still available across the remaining four teams.

The milestone fifth season of the SA20 is set to get bigger and better, with T20 superstars Mitchell Marsh, Joe Root, Sam Curran, Jason Holder and Phil Salt joining the fold as the six franchises confirmed their pre-auction retentions and signings ahead of the new edition. Durban's Super Giants and Paarl Royals are the only two teams to have completed their 19-player squads before the auction, with 19 slots still available across the remaining four teams. Mitchell Marsh, Australia's T20 captain and part of the Leeds side in the Sunrisers universe in The Hundred, is in line to make his SA20 debut for the three-time champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Marsh will join the likes of Quinton de Kock, Matthew Breetzke, Jordan Hermann and captain Tristan Stubbs in a powerful batting line-up, set to enthral the loyal St George's Park crowd. Further north, Sam Curran, who represented MI Cape Town in the first two seasons, will don the Durban's Super Giants colours, where he will team up with his England teammate Jos Buttler. Joe Root, England's returning Test captain, who formed a formidable opening partnership with young Lhuan-dre Pretorius for the Paarl Royals a couple of seasons ago, returns to Boland Park for another season in pink. The runners-up, Pretoria Capitals, have received a significant boost to their top order with the additions of Phil Salt and Australian international Matt Short. Salt, who has represented the Capitals previously, will reunite with Short at the top of the order, with the pair currently opening together for Welsh Fire in The Hundred. The duo adds further firepower to a batting line-up featuring Dewald Brevis, Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell and last season's breakout star Connor Esterhuizen. England all-rounder Will Jacks, who enjoyed three sensational seasons with the Capitals, has moved down south to Cape Town to complete the trio of MI franchises, being part of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL and currently playing for the MI London setup in The Hundred. "Season 5 is shaping up to be our strongest yet," SA20 League Commissioner Graeme Smith said. "Bringing in a player of Mitchell Marsh's calibre alongside the class of Joe Root, Sam Curran and Phil Salt shows the growing pull of our league on the global stage. What excites me most is seeing that quality alongside South Africa's international and domestic stars at the peak of their powers." "The franchises head into the auction with the majority of their squads already locked in, which speaks volumes about the stability and consistency we have built. This sets us up for a highly competitive Season 5," Smith concluded. On the other hand, MLC-winning captain Jason Holder will don the yellow of the Joburg Super Kings, who are on the hunt for a new captain after parting ways with Faf du Plessis, who led the side in its first four seasons. Among the other prominent releases is England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow, who formed a formidable opening partnership with Quinton de Kock for the Sunrisers. MI Cape Town have also parted ways with long-serving players Trent Boult, Rassie van der Dussen and Kieron Pollard, while the likes of Wiaan Mulder and Nandre Burger, who were marquee signings for the Super Kings, will also enter the auction pool. The Super Kings and MI Cape Town will be the busiest teams at the auction, needing to sign seven and six players respectively, while the Capitals have five vacant slots to fill. All six teams have filled their overseas pre-signing slots, while the Super Kings will be eligible for a wildcard pick. Season 5 of the SA20 gets underway on Sunday, January 17, at St George's Park, with the Sunrisers taking on the Capitals in a repeat of last season's final. The competition culminates with the Final at Newlands on Sunday, February 21.

Durban's Super Giants and Paarl Royals are the only two teams to have completed their 19-player squads before the auction, with 19 slots still available across the remaining four teams.

Mitchell Marsh, Root, Curran headline pre-auction signings of SA20 squads before upcoming season

It was yet another season and yet another success for SunRisers Eastern Cape as they lifted their third SA20 title with a thrilling win over Pretoria Capitals on Sunday (Jan 25). The six-wicket win was their third success since the competition started. The SA20, which already has a dedicated set of fans, could expand in the future with the league set to enter a new cycle from 2028. However, expanding the league from six to eight teams will come with a set of challenges.<h2>Smith opens up on SA20 expansion</h2>Speaking on the same, SA20 Commissioner and former South Africa captain Graeme Smith opened up on the challenges. According to him, the league won’t expand until 2028 as per current commitments, but doing so in the future will come up with a certain set of challenges. Smith reckons that expanding teams will require a larger pool of homegrown players.&nbsp;"If teams expand, tournaments would be longer, so scheduling with Cricket South Africa’s Future Tours Program is crucial," Smith explained in the post-season press meet.&nbsp;"From 2027, the cycle shifts and expansion means adding 25-30 more South African cricketers. Maintaining league competitiveness is key as you consider these changes.&nbsp;“These are things and which venues do you go to, and then obviously the investors. We do get approached by potential investors that are interested, but it's a whole complex thing that needs to be. Once Cricket South Africa and our shareholders decide what they want to do, then we've got to do the work,” Smith added.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a><h2>SunRisers emerge victorious</h2>Sunrisers Eastern Cape clinched their third SA20 title in four seasons with a memorable six-wicket victory over Pretoria Capitals (PC) at Newlands, overcoming early trouble to chase down 159 with four balls to spare after batting heroics from Matthew Breetzke and captain Tristan Stubbs.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;After being put into bat by the captain, Pretoria Capitals were lifted by a brilliant century from Dewald Brevis, who scored 101 off 56 balls, including eight fours and seven sixes, and carried his side to 158 for 7 after they had lost two wickets for just one run on the board early on. Brevis stitched a 96-run partnership with Bryce Parsons and struck the majority of the boundaries in the innings, but received little support from the rest of the lineup.&nbsp;However, Brevis’s efforts went in vain with SunRisers lifting their third title in&nbsp;four seasons.

SA20 Commissioner and former South Africa captain Graeme Smith opened up on the challenges. According to him, the league won’t expand until 2028 as per current commitments, but doing so in the future will come up with a certain set of challenges.

It was yet another season and yet another success for SunRisers Eastern Cape as they lifted their third SA20 title with a thrilling win over Pretoria Capitals on Sunday (Jan 25). The six-wicket win was their third success since the competition started. The SA20, which already has a dedicated set of fans, could expand in the future with the league set to enter a new cycle from 2028. However, expanding the league from six to eight teams will come with a set of challenges. Smith opens up on SA20 expansion Speaking on the same, SA20 Commissioner and former South Africa captain Graeme Smith opened up on the challenges. According to him, the league won’t expand until 2028 as per current commitments, but doing so in the future will come up with a certain set of challenges. Smith reckons that expanding teams will require a larger pool of homegrown players. "If teams expand, tournaments would be longer, so scheduling with Cricket South Africa’s Future Tours Program is crucial," Smith explained in the post-season press meet. "From 2027, the cycle shifts and expansion means adding 25-30 more South African cricketers. Maintaining league competitiveness is key as you consider these changes. “These are things and which venues do you go to, and then obviously the investors. We do get approached by potential investors that are interested, but it's a whole complex thing that needs to be. Once Cricket South Africa and our shareholders decide what they want to do, then we've got to do the work,” Smith added. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds SunRisers emerge victorious Sunrisers Eastern Cape clinched their third SA20 title in four seasons with a memorable six-wicket victory over Pretoria Capitals (PC) at Newlands, overcoming early trouble to chase down 159 with four balls to spare after batting heroics from Matthew Breetzke and captain Tristan Stubbs. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli After being put into bat by the captain, Pretoria Capitals were lifted by a brilliant century from Dewald Brevis, who scored 101 off 56 balls, including eight fours and seven sixes, and carried his side to 158 for 7 after they had lost two wickets for just one run on the board early on. Brevis stitched a 96-run partnership with Bryce Parsons and struck the majority of the boundaries in the innings, but received little support from the rest of the lineup. However, Brevis’s efforts went in vain with SunRisers lifting their third title in four seasons.

SA20 Commissioner and former South Africa captain Graeme Smith opened up on the challenges. According to him, the league won’t expand until 2028 as per current commitments, but doing so in the future will come up with a certain set of challenges.

Graeme Smith underlines key factor in potential SA20 expansion, says 'want to keep the league competitive'

SA20’s biggest power-hitters have dominated the sixes chart, clearing the ropes consistently and delivering match-winning knocks with aggressive batting, high strike rates, and impactful performances across seasons.


5 batters to hit most sixes in SA20: No.3 plays from CSK in IPL

Top batters in SA20 have dominated the run charts with consistent scoring, strong averages, explosive strike rates, and crucial hundreds and fifties, playing key roles for their franchises across seasons.


From Ryan Rickelton to Aiden Markram: 5 batters with most runs in SA20

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Mitchell Marsh, Root, Curran headline pre-auction signings of SA20 squads before upcoming season

Graeme Smith underlines key factor in potential SA20 expansion

5 batters to hit most sixes in SA20: No.3 plays from CSK in IPL

From Ryan Rickelton to Aiden Markram: 5 batters with most runs in SA20