Dewald Brevis and Aiden Markram stole the spotlight at the SA20 2025-26 auction, breaking salary records with staggering bids from franchises eager to secure their services.
Brevis Becomes Most Expensive Buy
South Africaโs young batting star Dewald Brevis, who holds the nationโs highest individual T20I score, became the costliest player in SA20 history. The Pretoria Capitals (PC) acquired him for R16.5 million (approx US$945,000) after a heated bidding war that started with Joburg Super Kings (JSK) and Paarl Royals (PR).
PC eventually outbid JSK, using over half of their R32.5 million purse on Brevis alone.
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Markram Joins Durbanโs Super Giants
Just minutes before Brevisโ record-breaking deal, Aiden Markram, South Africaโs T20I captain and two-time SA20 title-winner with Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC), was bought for R14 million by Durbanโs Super Giants (DSG).
Markram was initially contested by PC, and though SEC attempted to use their โright-to-matchโ card, they stepped aside when DSG pushed the bid higher. He is now tipped as a likely captain for the franchise.
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Other Big Buys and Team Strategies
- Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) replaced Markram by appointing Tristan Stubbs as captain and added Anrich Nortje (R5 million), Marco Jansen, and several overseas recruits including Chris Wood and Lewis Gregory.
- MI Cape Town (MICT), defending champions, retained continuity by buying back Rassie van der Dussen (R5.2 million) and securing Reeza Hendricks for a bargain price of R500,000.
- Pretoria Capitals further strengthened with Lungi Ngidi, Reece Topley, and Imran Tahir, while Durbanโs Super Giants built a balanced squad including Gerald Coetzee and Bangladeshโs Taijul Islam.
- Joburg Super Kings (JSK) invested heavily in Wiaan Mulder (R9 million) and retained left-arm quick Nandre Burger (R6.3 million).
Tough Day for Paarl Royals
The Paarl Royals (PR) had a difficult outing, often outbid in key battles. Their top signing was Kyle Verreynne for R2.3 million, alongside bowlers Ottneil Baartman and Gudakesh Motie. Despite missing out on frontline pacers, they filled gaps late in the accelerated rounds.
Notable Unsold Players
Several well-known names failed to attract buyers, including Andile Phehlukwayo, Junior Dala, Mustafizur Rahman, Kusal Perera, Jayden Seales, Jimmy Anderson, and Moeen Ali.
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