SA20 Auction Shocker: 18-Year-Old Steals the Show

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-08

### SA20 2027 Auction: The Big Spenders and Their Bold Bets Four SA20 franchises opened their wallets at the Betway SA20 Season 5 Player Auction in Johannesburg on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. They were filling 19 remaining squad slots ahead of the 2027 tournament. And let me tell you, the bidding wars got intense. Joburg Super Kings made the biggest splash, picking 18-year-old Jason Rowles for a record R2.9 million ($156,000). That's a lot of faith in a teenager, right? But wait—there's more. They also secured Faf du Plessis for R2.7 million ($146,000) and West Indies legend Kieron Pollard for R1.5 million ($81,000). MI Cape Town weren't sitting idle either. They signed West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer for R1.5 million ($81,000), brought back New Zealand's Trent Boult for R1.5 million ($81,000), and bought South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder for R2.6 million ($140,000). The fifth season of the SA20 league kicks off on January 17, 2027, in Gqeberha. So, who got the best deals? Let's break it down. ### Eighteen-Year-Old Jason Rowles Claims Top Price Tag Joburg Super Kings bought 18-year-old all-rounder Jason Rowles for R2.9 million ($156,000). MI Cape Town and Joburg Super Kings fought an intense bidding battle for the Under-23 player before Joburg Super Kings secured his signature. That purchase made Rowles the most expensive player of the entire auction. Can you believe it? An 18-year-old outshining seasoned pros. Rowles scored 280 runs in five innings at an average of 70 and a strike rate of 112 for South Africa in the Under-19 World Cup earlier in 2026. He also scored a double-hundred in a Youth Test against England in Hove in July 2026. One year ago, Rowles played in the final of the Schools SA20 tournament. The kid's got talent, no doubt. But will he live up to the hype? Only time will tell. > "𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐃!!! 18-year-old, Jason Rowles is up! Oh boy, MI Cape Town and Joburg Super Kings go all-in to secure the youngster. He’ll be staying in Joburg though as JSK secure his services for R2.9 million – the highest of the evening so far." — Betway SA20 (@SA20_League), October 7, 2026 ### Joburg Super Kings Sign Du Plessis and Pollard Joburg Super Kings entered the auction with the largest remaining purse of R20.6 million ($1.245 million) under new head coach Albie Morkel. The franchise bought back former captain Faf du Plessis for R2.7 million ($146,000) after beating MI Cape Town in a bidding war. Du Plessis returned to the Wanderers, where he played during the first four SA20 seasons. A familiar face back home—that's always nice to see. Joburg Super Kings also signed West Indies player Kieron Pollard unopposed at his base price of R1.5 million ($81,000). Pollard joins a Super Kings team for the first time after playing for Mumbai Indians franchise teams across global leagues for many years. Talk about a full-circle moment. Joburg Super Kings completed their roster by signing local all-rounder Dayyaan Galiem for R375,000 ($20,250), USA international batter Andries Gous for R1.0 million ($54,000), and Zimbabwean fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani for R500,000 ($27,000). The team also named English all-rounder Jamie Overton as their wildcard player. That's a pretty stacked lineup, if you ask me. ### MI Cape Town Strengthen Roster with Hetmyer, Boult and Mulder Head coach Robin Peterson and MI Cape Town had R9.35 million ($565,150) heading into the bidding session. West Indies power-hitter Shimron Hetmyer became the first player sold in the auction when MI Cape Town bought him for R1.5 million ($81,000). The team also brought back New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult for R1.5 million ($81,000) to lead their powerplay bowling attack. Boult's experience is invaluable, especially in those crucial early overs. MI Cape Town then won a bidding contest against Joburg Super Kings to buy South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder for R2.6 million ($140,000). Mulder joins MI Cape Town after playing for Joburg Super Kings last season. MI Cape Town filled their remaining slots by signing Daniel Smith for R200,000 ($10,800) and Lehan Botha for R200,000 ($10,800). They're building something special down in Cape Town. So there you have it. The SA20 2027 auction was a whirlwind of big money and bold moves. Joburg Super Kings and MI Cape Town are clearly gearing up for a fierce battle. Which team do you think came out on top? I'd love to hear your thoughts.