South Africa Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma couldn’t find a bidder in the SA20 2026 auction.
Temba Bavuma goes unsold in SA20 2026 auction
For the second season in a row, Bavuma continues to be ignored by SA20 franchises. He entered the auction for the fourth edition with a base price of R200,000 and found no takers.
Bavuma’s T20 record reads 2653 runs at an average of 27.07 and a strike-rate of 123.99. His last appearance in the format came more than a year ago in the Lions’ successful campaign in the domestic CSA T20 Challenge. He scored 171 runs from 15 matches at 21.27 and 117.93.
Also read: Million Dollar Baby AB (almost): South Africa batting stars fetch record bids at SA20 2026 auction
Once South Africa’s T20I captain, Bavuma led his nation in 25 matches between 2021 and 2022, including two back-to-back World Cups. In the 2021 edition, South Africa failed to qualify despite winning four of their five group matches due to an inferior net run-rate. In the 2022 edition, they had a poorer outing, winning only two of their five matches and facing another group-stage exit. Bavuma’s performance in those tournaments wasn't impressive, as he managed only 161 runs at an average of 23.00 and a strike rate of 110.27.
Dewald Brevis ➡️ Pretoria Capitals
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 9, 2025
Aiden Markram ➡️ Durban’s Super Giants
Some big money signings have been made in the opening round of the SA20 auction 💰🇿🇦#SA20 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/4FvQ4QEBqN
Later in September 2022, he was overlooked in the inaugural SA20 auction, a snub he expressed frustration about before departing for India's tour. He eventually joined the tournament as a mid-season injury replacement for the champions, Sunrisers Eastern Cape. His stint there was brief; he played five matches across two seasons before being released. Around the same time, he was dropped from South Africa's T20I side.
Also read: SA20 2026 auction: Full list of players, start time and where to watch live on TV and streaming
Although he is out of the T20I side, Bavuma remains an integral part of South Africa's Test and ODI setups, having captained them in their most recent global tournaments. Under his leadership, South Africa reached the semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup, 2025 Champions Trophy and won the 2023-25 World Test Championship, the country’s first ICC title in 27 years.
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