SA20 2025-26: Why did Andre Russell miss PC vs SEC Qualifier 1 clash?

Pretoria Capitals made one change to their XI for PC vs SEC Qualifier 1 clash, adding Jordan Cox in place of Andre Russell

Pretoria Capitals (PC) and Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) are up against each other in Qualifier 1 of the ongoing SA20 2025-26 tournament. This match is being played at Kingsmead, Durban, on January 21, 2026.

Captained by Tristan Stubbs, Sunrisers Eastern Cape finished at the top of the points table with five wins from 10 games and 28 points. On the other hand, Pretoria Capitals, led by Keshav Maharaj, also won five games out of 10 they played in the league stage, but had only 24 points to their name.

Tristan Stubbs won the toss and chose to bat in PC vs SEC Qualifier 1 clash. It was a very good call, given their amazing bowling power.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain Tristan Stubbs talked about his team’s playing XI and revealed that there was one change, that Adam Milne was replaced in the XI by Lewis Gregory.

“We’ll have a bat. We feel runs on the board in a playoffs game are a good thing. One change—Milne out, Gregory in. Probably closest to St. George’s, where you have to do the basics well for a long period of time. A lot of guys have played here from the previous season and have shared their knowledge. We try to keep things as simple as possible,” Stubbs stated at the toss.

Andre Russell was left out of the PC playing XI for the Qualifier 1 clash against SEC

PC captain Keshav Maharaj was next on the mic and revealed that he also had one change in the playing XI, as Jordan Cox came in for Andre Russell.

“Were also going to bat first. Looks like a good wicket. Gives us the first opportunity to use whatever moisture there is from yesterday’s rain. A lot of knowledge within our camp (about the venue). Looks like a good wicket; doesn’t look like a traditional Kingsmead wicket. Nice to carry confidence from the previous game. Hopefully, peak at the right time. One change – Jordan Cox comes in,” Maharaj stated.

Pretoria took a big call, leaving out Andre Russell from their playing XI for this important match of the SA20 season 4. Russell has scored 30 runs in five matches he has played for PC with a strike rate of 130.43, with the best score of 15. With the ball, he has bowled nine overs and has gone for 74 runs for one wicket, with an economy of 8.22.

Russell had scored a duck in the last match PC played in the league stage and didn’t pick up any wickets in the one over bowled. However, seeing that he is not in form with either the bat or the ball, PC probably made a good choice.

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