The SA20 2027 mini-auction saw franchises complete their squads ahead of the fifth season of the competition. Joburg Super Kings were among the busiest teams on the day, bringing back former captain Faf du Plessis while also adding experienced T20 star Kieron Pollard and several promising players.

The auction also saw a major bidding battle for South African teenager Jason Rowles, while MI Cape Town strengthened their squad with the likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Wiaan Mulder and Trent Boult. Defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape also added to their pace attack, while Pretoria Capitals made some notable late additions.

Jason Rowles becomes biggest buy as Faf du Plessis returns to JSK

The biggest buy of the SA20 2027 mini-auction was 18-year-old all-rounder Rowles, who was signed by Joburg Super Kings for R2.9 million after a fierce bidding battle with MI Cape Town. The left-handed batter and left-arm spinner has emerged as one of the promising young talents in South African cricket. Rowles was South Africa’s leading run-scorer at the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, scoring 280 runs in five innings at an average of 70. He also hit a double-century in a Youth Test in Hove in July, further raising his profile ahead of the auction.

JSK also brought back Du Plessis for R2.7 million after releasing him ahead of the auction. Pollard joined the franchise for R1.5 million, while Andries Gous, Blessing Muzarabani and Dayyaan Galiem were their other auction additions. MI Cape Town responded by signing Hetmyer for R1.5 million and Mulder for R2.6 million. They also brought Boult back for R1.5 million, while Daniel Smith, Lehan Botha and Oliver Whitehead completed their auction business.

Defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape added two experienced seamers in Nandre Burger and Craig Overton. Pretoria Capitals signed Rassie van der Dussen for R500,000 and also added Temba Bavuma, Keemo Paul and Ackeem Auguste for R200,000 each. Paarl Royals and Durban’s Super Giants had already completed their squads and did not participate in the auction.

Complete squads of all six teams after the SA20 2027 players’ auction

1. Joburg Super Kings

• Retained: Jarren Bacher, Matthew de Villiers, Leus du Plooy, Donovan Ferreira, Dian Forrester, Akeal Hosein, Duan Jansen, Rilee Rossouw, Janco Smit, Prenelan Subrayen, James Vince
• Wild Card: Jamie Overton
• Pre-signings: Jason Holder
• Auction signings: Faf du Plessis, Jason Rowles, Dayyaan Galiem, Kieron Pollard, Blessing Muzarabani, Andries Gous

2. MI Cape Town

• Retained: Corbin Bosch, Reeza Hendricks, Rashid Khan, Thomas Kaber, George Linde, Tristan Luus, Dane Piedt, Nicholas Pooran, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tiaan van Vuuren
• Wild Card: Kagiso Rabada
• Pre-signings: Will Jacks
• Auction signings: Shimron Hetmyer, Wiaan Mulder, Trent Boult, Daniel Smith, Lehan Botha, Oliver Whitehead

3. Pretoria Capitals

• Retained: Dewald Brevis, Connor Esterhuizen, Wihan Lubbe, Keshav Maharaj, Bayanda Majola, Lungi Ngidi, Bryce Parsons, Gideon Peters, Sherfane Rutherford, Lizaad Williams, Codi Yusuf
• Wild Card: Andre Russell
• Pre-signings: Phil Salt, Matthew Short
• Auction signings: Rassie van der Dussen, Keemo Paul, Ackeem Auguste, Josh Breed, Temba Bavuma

4. Sunrisers Eastern Cape

• Retained: Matthew Breetzke, James Coles, Quinton de Kock, Lewis Gregory, Jordan Hermann, CJ King, JP King, Patrick Kruger, Adam Milne, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla, Tristan Stubbs, Mitchell van Buuren
• Wild Card: Marco Jansen
• Pre-signings: Mitch Marsh, Rishad Hossain
• Auction signings: Nandre Burger, Craig Overton

Also READ: SA20 2027: Joburg Super Kings appoint new head coach after Stephen Fleming’s exit

5. Paarl Royals

• Retained: Ottneil Baartman, JJ Basson, Bjorn Fortuin, Rubin Hermann, Dan Lawrence, Keagan Lion-Cachet, David Miller, Nqobani Mokoena, Gudakesh Motie, Delano Potgieter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sikandar Raza, Thomas Rew, Asa Tribe, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Kyle Verreynne, Hardus Viljoen
• Wild Card: Joe Root
• Pre-signings: Azmatullah Omarzai
• Auction signings: None

6. Durban’s Super Giants

• Retained: Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Eathan Bosch, Jos Buttler, Gerald Coetzee, Devon Conway, Tony de Zorzi, Daryn Dupavillon, Simon Harmer, Evan Jones, Liam Livingstone, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Sunil Narine, Andile Simelane, Kyle Simmonds, Kane Williamson
• Wild Card: Heinrich Klaasen
• Pre-signings: Sam Curran
• Auction signings: None

Also READ: Cricket South Africa announces complete schedule of SA20 2027