SA20 2026: Captains of all 6 teams

SA20 2026 will start on December 26.

South Africa’s popular T20 league, SA20 2025–26 season, is set to begin in just a few days, with the opening match scheduled for December 26 between MI Cape Town and Durban Super Giants.

The six franchises will once again compete fiercely for the prestigious title. Since its inception in 2023, the tournament has witnessed sold-out stadiums, record-breaking television viewership, and thrilling high-scoring encounters, establishing itself as a fan-favourite league.

As the South African summer reaches its peak, SA20 returns for its fourth season, continuing its rapid rise as one of the most exciting franchise tournaments in world cricket.

However, the recent auction brought several notable changes across teams, including a few captaincy switches. On that note, let’s take a look at the captains leading each team this season.

Durban Super Giants – Aiden Markram

Aiden Markram enjoyed a successful three-year stint as captain of Sunrisers Eastern Cape; under his leadership, the team reached all three finals and won two titles.

In the recent auction, the SEC tried to bring him back by using their Right to Match (RTM) card when the bid reached R12.5 million, but Durban Super Giants responded with an increased bid of R14 million to secure the 30-year-old for the upcoming season.

Markram now faces a new challenge as captain of a different franchise. However, he will be well supported by a strong core that includes England’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Jos Buttler, Heinrich Klaasen, Gerald Coetzee, Sunil Narine, and Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad.

Joburg Super Kings – Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis has been the captain of Joburg Super Kings since the league started in 2023 and continues in the role for the fourth season. The 41-year-old recently announced that he will no longer be part of the IPL, choosing instead to focus on other global T20 leagues.

Du Plessis enjoyed seven highly successful years with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL and has since expanded the franchise’s global presence with the Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket and Joburg Super Kings in SA20.

With several new and young faces in the squad, Faf will be eager to guide a youthful brigade and lead the franchise towards its first major success in South Africa.

MI Cape Town – Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan has played a major role in the success of MI Cape Town in the SA20. The Afghan spinner was the captain of the team in the first season, but in the second season, he was ruled out due to injury, with Kieron Pollard leading MI Cape Town in Rashid’s absence.

Rashid returned in season three and played a massive role both as a bowler and a captain, leading the team to their first title in South Africa.

He picked up 12 wickets at an economy of just 7, and under his leadership, the bowling unit, in particular, performed exceptionally well to clinch the trophy. Rashid will return as the captain of MI Cape Town for season four as they look to defend their title.

Paarl Royals – David Miller

David Miller will be captaining the Paarl Royals for the fourth consecutive year. Under his leadership, the team has qualified for the playoffs in all three seasons so far, but they have fallen short of reaching the finals and winning the trophy.

The left-handed finisher is well known for his T20 prowess and has been the Royals’ second-highest run-scorer, accumulating 701 runs for the franchise.

Miller has expressed his honour at continuing as captain, calling it a fresh start for the team. He believes the Royals are ready to break the jinx of playoff exits, take the next step, and finally make it to the final this season.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape – Tristan Stubbs

Tristan Stubbs is the only name on the list who has never captained a team before. With Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s former captain Aiden Markram being bought by Durban Super Giants in the auction, despite SEC trying their best to retain him, Stubbs has now been appointed as the new captain.

He will be stepping into the big shoes of Markram, under whose leadership the team won two titles and finished as runners-up last season. Stubbs, who was once termed a potential star in the early seasons, has evolved significantly over the years.

His appointment reflects his growth and the trust the franchise has placed in him to lead a T20 side. There will be immense pressure on his shoulders as he looks to live up to the huge expectations of the fans of the most successful SA20 franchise.

Pretoria Capitals – Keshav Maharaj

Pretoria Capitals have missed the playoffs in the last two seasons, and in their search for a strong leader to turn things around, they acquired Keshav Maharaj in the auction. Maharaj was the first player bought in the auction, picked up by PC for R1.7 million, highlighting the franchise’s clear intent from the outset.

He previously represented the Durban Super Giants for three seasons and also led them to the Season 2 final, proving his leadership credentials. Having also captained the South African national side, Maharaj brings vast experience, tactical awareness, and calm leadership to the Capitals’ setup.

His arrival could be the missing piece as Pretoria Capitals look to rebuild, regain consistency, and make a strong push for the playoffs in the upcoming season.

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