More than a decade and a half after losing the bidding war at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, Super Kings’ SA20 franchise, Jo’burg Super Kings have acquired the services of legendary West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard for the upcoming season. There was no bid from Pollard’s former team MI Cape Town as JSK roped in him in for R 1.5 million, banking on the heaps of experience he brings to any T20 side. JSK also roped back in former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis for R 2.7 million after a bidding war with MI Cape Town. JSK had released Du Plessis before the mini-auction.
MI sign another Caribbean big hitter to replace Pollard
MI acquired the services of Shimron Hetmyer to play the finisher role for them. Hetmyer was signed for R 1.5 million. This will be Hetmyer's maiden season in MI colours. MI Cape Town also went back to their old guard Trent Boult. The left-arm pacer's serviced were acquired for R 1.5 million.
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Big feat awaits Pollard
Pollard needs just a run to complete 15,000 runs in T20s. He will become the second batter to do so after England's Jos Buttler. Pollard will bolster JSK's robust middle order featuring Donovan Ferreira and DIan Forrester. He will face his former franchise on January 20, 2027.
Bavuma is back to SA20
South Africa's Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma will don the Pretoria Capitals in SA20 2027. Bavuma was the last pick of the auction. He had previously represented Sunrisers Eastern Cape in two seasons. It will be his chance to revive his T20 career. He has just one fifty in his SA20 career which came in 2022/23 season. From five innings, he has 85 runs at a strike rate of 125.
Unsold in marquee set, Capitals went for another experienced player in Rassie van der Dussen. In addition, they got West Indies all-rounder Keemo Paul and opener Ackeem Auguste.
Teenager becomes most expensive buy
18-year-old Jason Rowles became the most expensive pick at the auction. JSK won the bidding warm against MICT with a bid of R 2.9 million. He made a name for himself with 280 runs in Under-19 World Cup 2026 followed by a double hundred in youth Test against England. Rowles made his T20 debut for South Africa Emerging Players a few days ago and scored an unbeaten 31-ball 45 along with a wicket in a losing cause.
"Jason Rowles was the highlight of the day for me. Seeing an 18-year-old spark the biggest bidding battle of the day tells you how much the franchises believe in the next generation," Graeme Smith, the SA20 league commissioner, said in a statement.
"It was only last year that he was participating in the Final of the rain Schools SA20 and today he will get to be a part of a squad consisting of some of the world's best T20 stars. That's the pathway we set out to build, and it's hugely encouraging to see it working."
MI Cape Town snatches Mulder from Super Kings
MI Cape Town roped in Proteas all-rounder Wiaan Mulder for R 2.6 million. JSK made three more picks as they included USA wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous, Zimbabwe's tall pacer Blessing Muzarabani and uncapped South Africa all-rounder Dayyan Galiem.
Sunrisers strengthen pace attack
Sunrisers Eastern Cape have included left-arm pacer Nandre Burger and England pace-bowling all-rounder Craig Overton. They will join the pace attack already featuring the likes of Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje and Adam Milne.
The two teams which did not participate in the auction were Paarl Royals and Durban Super Giants as they had already filled up their squads.
SA20 2027 full list of squads -
Joburg Super Kings
Retained players: Jarren Bacher, Matthew de Villiers, Leus du Plooy, Donovan Ferreira, Dian Forrester, Akeal Hosein (West Indies), Duan Jansen, Rilee Rossouw, Janco Smit, Prenelan Subrayen, James Vince (England)
Pre-signings: Jason Holder (West Indies), Jamie Overton (England, wildcard)
Players signed at mini-auction: Faf du Plessis, Jason Rowles, Dayyaan Galiem, Kieron Pollard, Blessing Muzarabani and Andries Gous
MI Cape Town
Retained players: Corbin Bosch, Reeza Hendricks, Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Thomas Kaber, George Linde, Tristan Luus - U23, Dane Piedt, Nicholas Pooran (West Indies), Kagiso Rabada (Wildcard), Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tiaan van Vuuren
Pre-signings: Will Jacks (England)
Players signed at mini-auction: Shimron Hetmyer, Wiaan Mulder, Trent Boult, Daniel Smith, Lehan Botha and Oliver Whitehead
Pretoria Capitals
Retained players: Dewald Brevis, Connor Esterhuizen, Wihan Lubbe, Keshav Maharaj, Bayanda Majola - U23, Lungi Ngidi, Bryce Parsons, Gideon Peters, Andre Russell (West Indies - Wildcard), Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies), Lizaad Williams, Codi Yusuf
Players signed at mini-auction: Phil Salt (England), Matthew Short (Australia)
Auction signings: Rassie van der Dussen, Keemo Paul, Ackeem Auguste, Josh Breed, Temba Bavuma
Sunrisers Eastern Cape
Retained players: Matthew Breetzke, James Coles (England), Quinton de Kock, Lewis Gregory (England), Jordan Hermann, Marco Jansen (Wildcard), CJ King - U23, JP King, Patrick Kruger, Adam Milne (New Zealand), Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla, Tristan Stubbs, Mitchell van Buuren
Pre-signings: Mitch Marsh (Australia), Rishad Hossain (Bangladesh)
Players signed at mini-auction: Nandre Burger, Craig Overton
Paarl Royals
Retained players: Ottneil Baartman, JJ Basson - U23, Bjorn Fortuin, Rubin Hermann, Dan Lawrence (England), Keagan Lion-Cachet, David Miller, Nqobani Mokoena - U23, Gudakesh Motie (West Indies), Delano Potgieter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius - U23, Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe), Thomas Rew (England), Asa Tribe (Jersey), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan), Kyle Verreynne, Hardus Viljoen
Pre-signings: Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan), Joe Root (Wildcard)
Players signed at mini-auction: None
Durban Super Giants
Retained players: Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Eathan Bosch, Jos Buttler (England), Gerald Coetzee, Devon Conway (New Zealand), Tony de Zorzi, Daryn Dupavillon, Simon Harmer, Evan Jones, Heinrich Klaasen (Wildcard), Liam Livingstone (England), Kwena Maphaka - U23, Aiden Markram, Sunil Narine (West Indies), Andile Simelane - U23, Kyle Simmonds, Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
Pre-signings: Sam Curran (England)
Players signed at mini-auction: None
SA20 2027 will commence on January 17, 2027 at St George's Park, Gqeberha. Defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape will go up against Pretoria Capitals. The contest will go on till February 21. The final will be played at Newlands, Cape Town.