Veteran all-rounder Kieron Pollard headlines the player auction for the fifth season of SA20, held on Wednesday, October 7. The 39-year-old, who has previously represented the MI franchise across various global leagues, moved to the Joburg Super Kings in an unopposed deal valued at R1.5 million. Who spent years with the MI family playing for Mumbai Indians, MI Cape Town, MI Emirates and MI New York in different competitions, was snapped up unopposed by Joburg Super Kings, the 39-year-old veteran all-rounder. The biggest bid of the night belonged to an all-rounder two decades his junior. All prices are in South African Rand.
The Super Kings entered the auction with the largest budget and utilized it to secure several high-profile additions. Young South Africa U19 talent Jason Rowles secured an R2.9 million contract, while Faf du Plessis made a return to the franchise for R2.7 million. Additional acquisitions for the Johannesburg side included Dayyaan Galiem, Blessing Muzarabani, and Andries Gous. The Super Kings completed their roster with four more picks: Faf du Plessis returned to the yellow kit for R2.7 million, aside from Pollard and Rowles.
MI Cape Town filled six roster spots, beginning with the purchase of Shimron Hetmyer. The franchise also acquired Wiaan Mulder following a competitive bid against the Super Kings, alongside Trent Boult, Daniel Smith, Lehan Botha, and Oliver Whitehead. Pretoria Capitals, acting late in the auction, secured Keemo Paul, Ackeem Auguste, Josh Breed, Temba Bavuma, and Rassie van der Dussen. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Eastern Cape utilized their final two slots to add Nandre Burger and Craig Overton. Durban’s Super Giants and Paarl Royals required no further reinforcements, having already completed their squads within the R42 million salary cap. Pre-signings: Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan), Joe Root (Wildcard).
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
- Pre-signed: Jason Holder
- Auction Buys: Faf du Plessis (2,700,000), Jason Rowles (2,900,000), Dayyaan Galiem (375,000), Kieron Pollard (1,500,000), Blessing Muzarabani (500,000), Andries Gous (1,000,000)
MI Cape Town
- Retained: Corbin Bosch, Reeza Hendricks, Rashid Khan, Thomas Kaber, George Linde, Tristan Luus, Dane Piedt, Nicholas Pooran, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tiaan van Vuuren
- Pre-signed: Will Jacks
- Auction Buys: Shimron Hetmyer (1,500,000), Wiaan Mulder (2,600,000), Trent Boult (1,500,000), Daniel Smith (200,000), Lehan Botha (200,000), Oliver Whitehead (200,000)
Pretoria Capitals
- Retained: Dewald Brevis, Connor Esterhuizen, Wihan Lubbe, Keshav Maharaj, Bayanda Majola, Lungi Ngidi, Bryce Parsons, Gideon Peters, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Lizaad Williams, Codi Yusuf
- Pre-signed: Phil Salt, Matthew Short
- Auction Buys: Rassie van der Dussen (500,000), Keemo Paul (200,000), Ackeem Auguste (200,000), Josh Breed (200,000), Temba Bavuma (200,000)
Sunrisers Eastern Cape
- Retained: Matthew Breetzke, James Coles, Quinton de Kock, Lewis Gregory, Jordan Hermann, Marco Jansen, CJ King, JP King, Patrick Kruger, Adam Milne, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla, Tristan Stubbs, Mitchell van Buuren
- Pre-signed: Mitchell Marsh, Rishad Hossain
- Auction Buys: Nandre Burger (500,000), Craig Overton (1,500,000)
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, Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Sunil Narine, Andile Simelane, Kyle Simmonds, Kane Williamson
- Pre-signed: Sam Curran
- Auction Buys: None
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
