SA20 Auction 2025 | Top Bids, New Signings, and Updated Squads
Highly anticipated SA20 Auction 2025 concluded on October 1st in Cape Town, bringing in a mix of international superstars and promising local talent to the six franchises. With a pool of 188 players vying for just 113 spots, the auction saw intense bidding wars, strategic picks, and a few surprise signings.
Details of SA20 Auction 2025:
| Player | Team | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Reeza Hendricks | MI Cape Town | R 4.30 million |
| Richard Gleeson | Sunrisers Eastern Cape | R 2.30 million |
| Evin Lewis | Pretoria Capitals | R 1.50 million |
| Marques Ackerman | Pretoria Capitals | R 800,000 |
| Shamar Joseph | Durban’s Super Giants | R 425,000 |
| Colin Ingram | MI Cape Town | R 175,000 |
| Dane Piedt | MI Cape Town | R 175,000 |
| Rubin Hermann | Paarl Royals | R 175,000 |
| Wihan Lubbe | Joburg Super Kings | R 175,000 |
| Evan Jones | Joburg Super Kings | R 175,000 |
| Okuhle Cele | Sunrisers Eastern Cape | R 175,000 |
| Doug Bracewell | Joburg Super Kings | R 175,000 |
| Kyle Simmonds | Pretoria Capitals | R 175,000 |
Hendricks Tops the Charts with Highest Bid
South African opener Reeza Hendricks emerged as the highest-paid player in this year’s auction, with a bid of R4.3 million from MI Cape Town. The Proteas batsman had a challenging T20 World Cup earlier but turned heads with back-to-back half-centuries against Ireland, reaffirming his value. MI Cape Town outbid Pretoria Capitals in a heated contest, securing Hendricks for their roster, where he will join fellow Lions players Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton.
Super Kings’ Wildcard Signing: Matheesha Pathirana
A day after the main auction, Joburg Super Kings unveiled their wildcard player, Sri Lankan slinger Matheesha Pathirana. Known for his impressive stint with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, Pathirana is set to make his debut in the SA20 league. His unique bowling action and ability to deliver under pressure make him a valuable addition to Joburg Super Kings’ squad.
Major Signings and Team Strategies
Durban’s Super Giants Secure Shamar Joseph
West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph, who initially went unsold, was later picked up by Durban’s Super Giants for R425,000. The decision aligns with their strategy of bolstering their pace attack. Joseph, who has IPL experience with Lucknow Super Giants, will work alongside new bowling coach Allan Donald. However, his availability might be a concern if he is selected for the West Indies’ two-Test tour of Pakistan, which overlaps with the SA20.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape Bet Big on Richard Gleeson
Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the defending champions, made a notable addition by signing England pacer Richard Gleeson for R2.3 million. Gleeson, 37, brings experience and versatility with his ability to bowl yorkers and bouncers at will. His inclusion complements Sunrisers’ focus on a strong pace attack, especially with players like Craig Overton already in the squad.
Pretoria Capitals Strengthen Top Order
Pretoria Capitals made two major acquisitions—West Indies opener Evin Lewis (R1.5 million) and South African domestic star Marques Ackerman (R800,000). Both players add firepower to their batting lineup, ensuring that the Capitals remain competitive in the powerplay overs.
MI Cape Town Add Depth
Apart from winning the Hendricks bidding war, MI Cape Town added experienced batter Colin Ingram and offspinner Dane Piedt for their base price of R175,000 each. Piedt, who returned from retirement earlier this year, will strengthen their spin attack.
Joburg Super Kings Roster Expansion
Joburg Super Kings focused on acquiring multi-dimensional players, securing Wihan Lubbe, Evan Jones, and New Zealand allrounder Doug Bracewell. They also signed rookie JP King, a promising young talent from the Warriors.
Key Players of SA20 Auction 2025
Durban’s Super Giants
- Key Players: Brandon King, Quinton de Kock, Naveen-ul-Haq, Kane Williamson, Chris Woakes
- New Additions: Shamar Joseph, CJ King (rookie)
Joburg Super Kings
- Key Players: Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Maheesh Theekshana
- New Additions: Wihan Lubbe, Evan Jones, Doug Bracewell, JP King (rookie), Matheesha Pathirana (wildcard)
MI Cape Town
- Key Players: Rashid Khan, Ben Stokes, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult
- New Additions: Reeza Hendricks, Colin Ingram, Dane Piedt, Tristan Luus (rookie)
Pretoria Capitals
- Key Players: Anrich Nortje, Jimmy Neesham, Will Jacks, Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- New Additions: Marques Ackerman, Evin Lewis, Kyle Simmonds, Keagan Lion-Cachet (rookie)
Paarl Royals
- Key Players: David Miller, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sam Hain, Joe Root
- New Additions: Rubin Hermann, Dewan Marais (rookie), Dinesh Karthik (wildcard)
Sunrisers Eastern Cape
- Key Players: Aiden Markram, Zak Crawley, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs
- New Additions: Richard Gleeson, Okuhle Cele, Daniel Smith (rookie)
Unsold Players of SA20 Auction 2025:
SA20 2025 Auction had its fair share of surprises, with several notable players remaining unsold despite their international credentials. Among the big names left without a team were South Africa’s limited-overs captain Temba Bavuma and young top-order batter Tony de Zorzi, both of whom have been key figures in South Africa’s domestic circuit.
Adding to the list of unsold stars was Ireland’s left-arm pacer Joshua Little, who has made a mark in various T20 leagues around the world, as well as Sri Lankan all-rounder Kamindu Mendis, known for his ambidextrous bowling capabilities. The absence of Pakistan’s pace sensation Naseem Shah, a consistent performer with his raw speed and accuracy, also came as a shock, indicating that franchises were perhaps looking for more experienced T20 specialists or specific roles to fill.
Updated Squads of SA20 Teams:
FAQs
Who was the most expensive player in the SA20 Auction 2025?
South Africa opener Reeza Hendricks was the most expensive player, sold to MI Cape Town for R4.3 million.
Which player had the second-highest bid in the auction?
England’s Richard Gleeson was the second-highest bid at R2.3 million, signed by Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Which team picked up the wildcard player Matheesha Pathirana?
Joburg Super Kings signed Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana as their wildcard player.
What is the SA20 Wildcard Rule?
Each franchise can pick one player outside the auction as their wildcard, who is added to the squad after the main auction.
Which overseas players were in high demand?
Apart from Hendricks and Gleeson, West Indies opener Evin Lewis and Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana were some of the top international picks in the SA20 Auction 2025.
