SA20 2025/26 power rankings: How do the teams compare ahead of season four?

Note: * denotes a temporary replacement player.

6. Paarl Royals

Squad: David Miller, Ottneil Baartman, Rubin Hermann, Vishen Halambage, Delano Potgeiter, Okuhle Cele, Keagan Lion-Cachet, Thomas Rew*, Dan Lawrence, Asa Tribe, Bjorn Fortuin, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sikandar Raza, Eshan Malinga, Kyle Verreynne, Nqobani Mokoena, Gudakesh Motie, Nqaba Peter, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, Hardus Viljoen.

Possible XI: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dan Lawrence, Rubin Hermann, Kyle Verreynne (wk), David Miller, Sikandar Raza, Delano Potgieter, Bjorn Fortuin, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, Eshan Malinga, Ottneil Baartman.

The Royals have a unique challenge in this competition, given how spin-friendly their home ground of Boland Park is. Last year, they became the first franchise T20 team to bowl 20 overs of spin in one innings.

Bjorn Fortuin and Mujeeb-ur-Rehman are genuine new-ball options, with Gudakesh Motie and Nqaba Peter as supporting options. Dan Lawrence will not be available for the start of the competition, but when he comes in, could be another support spinner, along with Zimbabwe star Sikandar Raza who also adds power to the middle-order.

Eshan Malinga’s devilish cutters could find significant assistance at home, while Ottneil Baartman has been one of the SA20’s standout death bowlers across the first three seasons. Hardus Viljoen gives Paarl the extra seam-bowling all-rounder option when they play away.

On the batting front, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and David Miller remain the core. Jersey international Asa Tribe could get a go at the top of the order in Lawrence’s absence. On the whole, it is a squad built to win at home. It's harsh to have them at No.6 here, but that skewness for Boland Park probably makes them weaker on paper than other sides across the other venues.

5. Joburg Super Kings

Squad: Matthew de Villiers, Nandre Burger, Donovan Ferreira, Jarren Bacher*, Reece Topley, Faf du Plessis, Richard Gleeson, Neil Timmers, Dian Forrester, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Akeal Hosein, Wiaan Mulder, Rilee Rossouw, Janco Smit, Shubham Ranjane, Steve Stolk, Prenelan Subrayen, Duan Jansen*, James Vince, Imran Tahir, Dan Worrall.

Possible XI: Faf du Plessis, James Vince, Rivaldo Moonsamy (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Shubham Ranjane, Donovan Ferreira, Wiaan Mulder, Akeal Hosein, Reece Topley, Nandre Burger, Imran Tahir.

There is a youthful feel to JSK’s domestic contingent, between the likes of Neil Timmers, Janco Smit, Steve Stolk and Dian Forrester in the squad. Jarren Bacher – grandson of Ali – is a temporary replacement for Reece Topley, and Duan Jansen the same for James Vince. Vince’s absence for the initial part of the tournament means there could be a spot open in the top order to be filled by either Stolk as a straight swap, or the much-talked-about Matthew de Villiers at 3 or 4, with Rivaldo Moonsamy moving to the top.

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In classic Super Kings fashion, their XIs throughout the season should have plenty of bowling options. Their entire middle to lower order of American Shubham Ranjane, West Indian Akeal Hosein and Proteas Donovan Ferreira and Wiaan Mulder give them value in both facets of the game (Ferreira can keep as well).

On paper, JSK have most bases covered but it's tough to point to any facet as a genuine strength. Much could depend on the form of their two senior players in captain Faf du Plessis and leggie Imran Tahir. Du Plessis struck at 163 in the Nepal Premier League, 177 in the Abu Dhabi T10 and 170 in Major League Cricket earlier in this year. Replicating that form would be key for the upcoming campaign. At 46, Tahir looks as good as ever in T20 cricket but one cannot discount the fear that he is bound to decline at some point.

4. Durban’s Super Giants

Squad: Marques Ackerman, Noor Ahmad, Jos Buttler, Dayyan Galiem, David Bedingham, Eathan Bosch, Devon Conway, Evan Jones, Tony de Zorzi, Gerald Coetzee, Heinrich Klaasen, Sunil Narine, Aiden Markram, Daryn Dupavillon, Andile Simelane, Gysbert Wege, Kwena Maphaka, David Wiese, Kane Williamson.

Possible XI: Jos Buttler, Aiden Markram, Kane Williamson, Tony de Zorzi, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Dayyan Galiem, David Wiese, Sunil Narine, Gerald Coetzee, Daryn Dupavillon, Noor Ahmad.

DSG have a strong domestic flavour in their squad for season four, with only five overseas players in the squad. Between Buttler and Klaasen, they have two batters capable of carrying a batting lineup on their own. Williamson is not the best T20 player out there, but they have been more than willing to slot him into their XI before.

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Noor Ahmad and Sunil Narine make up possibly the best spin pairing in the league this season. Since the start of 2023, spinners at Kingsmead have been significantly more economical than quicks in T20 cricket; conceding at 7.3 vs 8.7 in the first innings and 7.2 vs 8.6 in the second. Expect this to continue.

DSG’s pace battery leaves a bit to be desired. Coetzee and Dupavillon are genuine quicks but tend to go for runs. Wiese and Galiem are more dependent on variations of pace, but without the upper gear of 140-plus, can possibly be taken down. If Maphaka were to kick on in his development, it would be a real boost for them.

3. Pretoria Capitals

Squad: Dewald Brevis, Junaid Dawood, Keith Dudgeon*, Jordan Cox, Roston Chase, Wihan Lubbe, Keshav Maharaj, Connor Esterhuizen, Bryce Parsons, Sibonelo Makhanya, Lungi Ngidi, Shai Hope, Daniel Smith*, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Gideon Peters, Meeka-eel Prince, Will Smeed, Lizaad Williams, Codi Yusuf, Tymal Mills.

Possible XI: Will Smeed, Bryce Parsons, Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Jordan Cox, Dewald Brevis, Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Codi Yusuf, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Lizaad Williams.

Power is Pretoria’s watchword this season. They broke the bank to sign Dewald Brevis at this year’s auction, and the middle-order axis of Brevis-Rutherford-Russell is mouthwatering. Potentially add Jordan Cox at No.4, and that is up there with the best in the world, never mind this competition.

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That being said, Pretoria’s top-order is possibly slightly less reliable. Parsons and Smeed are both exciting but inconsistent players, and Esterhuizen has not quite cracked it at SA20 or ILT20 so far but it is still early. If the Capitals are 30-3 more often than not this year, one wonders whether it undercuts that powerful engine room somewhat.

Shai Hope may play until Cox joins the squad. Bowling-wise, Pretoria can play an attack of four South Africa-capped bowlers with Tymal Mills as an international alternative. Lizaad Williams (eight wickets, economy 8.62 at the death in the SA20) should help shore up the back-end weakness they had last year.

2. Sunrisers Eastern Cape

Squad: Matthew Breetzke, Tharindu Rathnayake*, Allah Ghazanfar, Jonny Bairstow, James Coles, Jordan Hermann, Adam Milne, Quinton de Kock, Lewis Gregory, Mitchell van Buuren, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, CJ King, Lutho Sipamla, JP King, Chris Wood, Patrick Kruger, Senuran Muthusamy, Beyers Swanepoel.

Possible XI: Jonny Bairstow, Quinton de Kock (wk), Jordan Hermann, James Coles, Tristan Stubbs, Mitchell van Buuren, Senuran Muthusamy, Marco Jansen, Allah Ghazanfar, Adam Milne, Anrich Nortje.

Last year, SEC’s glaring weakness was their scoring in the first half of their innings. On paper, that should be fixed straightaway with the additions of Bairstow and de Kock at the top of the order. The younger Hermann brother, Jordan, will keep his spot at three and highly-rated Sussex all-rounder James Coles has a solid chance to slot in at four.

If there is one thing lacking for the Sunrisers, it could be finishing with the bat. New captain Stubbs will likely have to shoulder that burden. Van Buuren (or Matthew Breetzke), Coles and Jansen perhaps cannot be relied upon yet for that role, but the team management will be banking on at least one of them to come good and give Stubbs that support.

The loss of Ottniel Baartman means the death bowling gap will need to be filled by Anrich Nortje and Adam Milne. Jansen remains a destructive force with the new ball. No one has more SA20 wickets in the Powerplay than him, and only two players – both spinners – with a minimum of ten overs in that phase have a better economy rate. On the spin front, ambidextrous Sri Lankan Tharindu Rathnayake will likely slot straight in for Allah Ghazanfar until the Afghan is available.

1. MI Cape Town

Squad: Reeza Hendricks, Trent Boult, Tom Moores, Corbin Bosch, Daniel Lategan, Thomas Kaber, Nicholas Pooran, Karim Janat, Rassie van der Dussen, Tristan Luus, Ryan Rickelton, Rashid Khan, Dane Piedt, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pretorius, Jason Smith, Jacques Snyman, Tiaan van Vuuren.

Possible XI: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Nicholas Pooran, Jason Smith, Tom Moores, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Rashid Khan, Trent Boult, Kagiso Rabada.

Defending champions MI Cape Town have the most settled unit this time around, and it was one that excelled in all phases with the bat last year. Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen are the most prolific opening pair in the competition’s three-year history, with 1,142 runs – averaging 67 and scoring at 9.6 runs an over together.

The addition of Nicholas Pooran makes MICT more dangerous on paper. The Trinidadian’s recent form has been underwhelming, going at under 140 across the MLC, CPL and ILT20 after striking at 196 in this year’s IPL. Never discount him, though. Englishman Tom Moores brings power and experience to the order, even though he is relatively untested at this level. Dwaine Pretorius could also come in for Jason Smith to shore up the bowling a bit.

Trent Boult and Kagiso Rabada should continue to be four-over banks, while Corbin Bosch is an excellent death-overs option. Like Pooran, Rashid Khan is another superstar who has struggled for his best rhythm this year but can never be counted out. George Linde is an excellent supplementary spinner to him, with left-arm leggie Thomas Kaber and offie Dane Piedt waiting in the wings.

Image: MI Cape Town/Sunrisers Eastern Cape/X

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