SA20 2027 Auction: Record Signings and Bold Moves Reshape Squads

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-08

The Betway SA20 Season 5 Player Auction in Johannesburg on October 7, 2026, was nothing short of a blockbuster. Four franchises dug deep into their pockets, spending millions of Rand to fill 19 remaining squad slots for the 2027 tournament. Joburg Super Kings made the biggest splash, picking 18-year-old sensation Jason Rowles for a record R2.9 million. They also secured Faf du Plessis for R2.7 million and West Indies legend Kieron Pollard for R1.5 million. MI Cape Town countered by signing Shimron Hetmyer for R1.5 million, bringing back Trent Boult for R1.5 million, and buying Wiaan Mulder for R2.6 million. ### Eighteen-Year-Old Jason Rowles Claims Top Price Tag Joburg Super Kings bought 18-year-old all-rounder Jason Rowles for R2.9 million. MI Cape Town and Joburg Super Kings fought an intense bidding battle for the Under-23 player before Joburg Super Kings secured his signature. The purchase made Rowles the most expensive player of the entire auction. 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. > "We knew we had to go all-in for Jason," said a Joburg Super Kings spokesperson. "He's a generational talent, and we're thrilled to have him." ### 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 after beating MI Cape Town in a bidding war. Du Plessis returned to the Wanderers, where he played during the first four SA20 seasons. Joburg Super Kings also signed West Indies player Kieron Pollard unopposed at his base price of R1.5 million. Pollard joins a Super Kings team for the first time after playing for Mumbai Indians franchise teams across global leagues for many years. Joburg Super Kings completed their roster by signing local all-rounder Dayyaan Galiem for R375,000, USA international batter Andries Gous for R1.0 million, and Zimbabwean fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani for R500,000. The team also named English all-rounder Jamie Overton as their wildcard player. ### 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. The team also brought back New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult for R1.5 million to lead their powerplay bowling attack. MI Cape Town then won a bidding contest against Joburg Super Kings to buy South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder for R2.6 million. 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, Lehan Botha for R200,000. The fifth season of the SA20 league begins on 17 January 2027, in Gqeberha. With these star-studded lineups, fans can expect fireworks from the very first ball.