Former Proteas all-rounder Chris Morris has offered his opinions on what seems to be the most competitive auction in the league’s history as the SA20 Season 4 Player Auction approaches. Morris, who is well-known for his keen cricketing observations and comprehension of team tactics, thinks the dynamics this year will be exciting to watch.
Before the Season 4 auction, former Proteas all-rounder Chris Morris told SuperSport about his excitement and initial thoughts:
“Regardless of the event, the auction is always thrilling, but SA20 is the biggest one because the majority of the players are back in the pool. It will be interesting to observe how the teams approach assembling their squads because there have been numerous wild cards selected and a lot of retentions. While some teams have plenty of money to spend, others have little left over after filling half of their squads.
Because of the financial realities at play, this means that many domestic players will be putting their hands up this season and are probably going to get opportunities. Looking at the teams, squads, and available players, I’ve already begun my homework and have some ideas about potential player landing spots. It’s a fantastic time of year, and SA20 will be even more popular this year.”
This will be the largest SA20 auction since the league’s founding in 2022, with the six teams pooling a total of USD 7.4 million to fill 84 spots and finish their 19-player rosters. The deadline for both domestic and international player registrations is quickly approaching; it is slated for Monday, August 18, 2025 at 20:30 IST.
Chris Morris mentioned Aiden Markram as one of the main performers in this year’s auction, referring to the well-known draws:
Although the Sunrisers have not kept him on board, they do have the ability to match the highest bidder and keep him on board. This creates the possibility of mind games, as other teams might place strong bids to raise his price to a point where it would be challenging for the Sunrisers to re-sign him. I saw two teams that stand out: MI Cape Town, which would resolve their captaincy issue.
It’s not that Rashid Khan isn’t doing a good job, but it would be a huge help to have a successful local international captain at number four, especially now that Rassie van der Dussen has been released, creating a spot at number three. With one of the biggest remaining purses, the Pretoria Capitals are the other. He is a native player who would take over as captain, start at number three, and provide strong leadership following Rilee Rossouw’s departure last season. In any case, Aiden Markram will be highly sought for.
Nearly 600 players from all over the world registered for the auction last year. Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and England’s Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow are already on the list of retained and pre-signed stars. The auction is set for September 9, 2025, in Johannesburg, and will be aired live on JioHotstar starting at 17:00 IST in India. The new season starts on December 26, 2025.
Stephen Cook, SA20 Head of Cricket Operations, stated:
“As the new season approaches, the SA20 Player Auction is typically a very exciting time. Given the quantity of participant slots and the maximum USD 7.4 million prize pool available, this year’s event will be even more interesting. Players from South Africa and other countries have been registering in droves, hoping to take advantage of worthwhile possibilities.
Chris Morris mentioned a combination of up-and-coming talent and established players when asked about individuals that might ignite fierce bidding wars:
“I believe that a bidding war will revolve around Kwena Maphaka. Another is Dewald Brevis, who hasn’t been hired. Rassie van der Dussen can possibly be in demand because of his experience. For my part, I constantly watch for the guy who ends up fetching an unexpectedly high price—the tournament purchase that nobody anticipated. Delano Potgieter seems like that player to me. He is an experienced player in domestic cricket, has performed well for MI Cape Town, and has had success in SA20. He is the type of player I would sign right away since he fills a variety of roles and gives a team excellent balance.
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