Live Update: Faf du Plessis and Kieron Pollard lead the SA20 season five auction, with Jason Rowles emerging as the most expensive pick. The fifth SA20 season begins on Sunday 17 January 2027. The Sunrisers Eastern Ce host the Pretoria Citals at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, repeating last season’s final.
Faf du Plessis and Kieron Pollard headline the SA20 Season 5 auction, while Jason Rowles emerges as the most expensive choice (Photo source: SA20) The SA20 Season 5 player auction produced a challenging mix of proven international pedigree and exciting young talent as the four remaining franchises finalized their squads in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening. Topping the list of top signings was former Proteas ctain Faf du Plessis, who attracted a lot of interest before being snped up by the Joburg Super Kings for $162,286, making him one of the biggest signings of the day. The 42-year-old was at the center of a bidding war between JSK and rivals MI Ce Town but eventually returned to Wanderers, where he spent the last four SA20 seasons. Du Plessis will be joined at the Bullring by another highly experienced T20 veteran, West Indies superstar Kieron Pollard. The legendary T20 all-rounder, the all-time leading run-scorer in the history of men’s T20 cricket, was bought by the Joburg Super Kings for $90,162.
Pollard will bring his hitting power, game management and championship pedigree to the Super Kings. Not to be outdone, MI Ce Town invested heavily in Proteas all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, securing his services for $156,274, while their first purchase of the day also saw them sign West Indies power hitter Shimron Hetmyer for $90,162. Former Proteas top batsman Rassie van der Dussen, meanwhile, will continue his SA20 journey with the Pretoria Citals after securing a deal for $30,053. This adds stability and experience to the Citals’ batting unit as they look to progress after finishing runners-up for the second time at Sunrisers Eastern Ce last season. Helping the Citals get there will be Proteas Test and ODI ctain Temba Bavuma. The 36-year-old will enjoy his third stint in SA20 after helping Sunrisers Eastern Ce win their first two championships. While established stars dominated much of the conversation, the most dramatic moment of the auction came from 18-year-old Jason Rowles.
The highly-rated U23 prospect was the subject of an intense bidding war between MI Ce Town and Joburg Super Kings, with both franchises recognizing his long-term potential. After a spirited competition, JSK emerged victorious, securing Rowles for $174,248, the most notable purchase of the entire auction. The fierce competition for Rowles highlighted the growing value of emerging South African talent in the SA20 ecosystem.
The acquisition not only represents a major investment in the future, but also underscores the league’s continued role in identifying and accelerating the development of the country’s next generation of stars. New Joburg Super Kings signee Jason Rowles from St David’s Marist Inanda and Rain Schools SA20 graduate was the standout buyer of the 2026 player auction as the Joburg Super Kings paid $174,248 for his services in Season 5. “This year’s auction showed exactly what SA20 has become,” said SA20 League Commissioner Graeme Smith. “It has become a hotbed where world-class players such as Faf du Plessis, Shimron Hetmyer and Trent Boult work alongside South Africa’s best young talent.
Jason Rowles was the highlight of the day for me. Seeing an 18-year-old start the biggest bidding war of the day shows how much franchises believe in the next generation. Just last year he played in the SA20 Rain Schools final and today he will be part of a team made up of some of the world’s best T20 stars.
This is the path we want to take and it is extremely encouraging to see it working. Sipamla. MI Ce Town also strengthened its bowling stocks with the return of New Zealand star player Trent Boult and 21-year-old Oliver Whitehead, while SA20’s global success extended to the United States and Zimbabwe with JSK’s acquisition of Andries Gous and Blessing Muzarabani. “It is also very pleasing to see so many Proteas players signed today,” Smith added. A strong league and a strong national team go hand in hand, and today was a good example of that. The fifth season of the SA20 begins on Sunday 17 January 2027. The Sunrisers Eastern Ce host the Pretoria Citals at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, repeating last season’s final.
