After leading the Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s list of players retained for 2025 on Wednesday, Aiden Markram will spearhead the team’s attempt to win an unprecedented SA20 hat-trick of championship victories. As the last competition came to an end, Markram held the SA20 trophy above his head.
The SEC captain has guided his squad through stressful moments with composure and skilful tactical acumen. At the recently finished ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the US and Caribbean, Markram became the first senior captain from South Africa to lead the Proteas Men’s side to a World Cup final, demonstrating the impact of the experience gained in SA20 over the previous two seasons on the international scene.
Markram, who is fourth on the all-time SA20 run-scorers list with 627 runs in 21 innings at an average of 33 and strike-rate of 132, has also been a key player with the bat. With 366 runs scored in 2022–23, he was very successful. Among those runs was a beautiful century during the Centurion semi-final victory over the Johannesburg Super Kings.
With his run total and general leadership and ball-handling abilities, Markram won the SA20 Player of 2022–23 title. For 2025, the Sunrisers kept the majority of the team that won two consecutive championships. The Gqeberha-based team’s potent seam-bowling attack has been the foundation of their success.
Thus, they have kept Marco Jansen, the top wicket-taker in 2023–24, and Ottniel Baartman, the SA20 Bowler of 2023–24. With 30 wickets at an average of 13.83, Baartman leads all wicket-takers in the competition’s history. Jansen is just two wickets behind him in second place with 28 wickets at 20.03. After finishing as the Sunrisers’ top run scorer in 2023–24 with 301 runs at an average of 60.20 and a strike-rate of 168.15, all-around player Tristan Stubbs has returned his record auction fee of R9.2 million in spades. He has also been retained for the next season.
In addition, Englishman Tom Abell and his youthful batting partner Jordan Hermann have been kept as rewards for their Player of the Final performance in 2023–24. Last season, the latter scored an incredible first-ever T20 century at Newlands.
Alongside Beyers Swanepoel, all-rounder Patrick Kruger, who made his Proteas T20I debut in the West Indies due to his efforts for the Sunrisers, has been retained. For 2025, the spin trio of Simon Harmer, Liam Dawson, and young Caleb Seleka will return, and Andile Simelane, the rookie from the previous season, has been added to the team.
The Sunrisers have previously confirmed four additional acquisitions, including the return of Roelof van der Merwe, the entrance of Englishmen Craig Overton and Zak Crawley, and the addition of Proteas batter David Bedingham as their Wildcard. The confirmation of their retentions before the deadline of July 31st follows.
Also Read: Craig Overton and David Bedingham are signed by Sunrisers Eastern Cape for the SA20 2025
They still have until August 15th, like all SA20 teams, to confirm if they have signed any additional foreign players. However, by doing so, they have essentially opened up two spots for the player auction that will take place later in 2024, when they will also select a new rookie for the upcoming season.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape Retentions for SA20 2025
Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs, Tom Abell (overseas, England), Jordan Hermann, Patrick Kruger, Beyers Swanepoel, Simon Harmer, Liam Dawson (overseas, England), Caleb Seleka, Andile Simelane.
Pre-signed overseas
Roelof van der Merwe (Netherlands), Craig Overton (England), Zak Crawley (England)
Wildcard
David Bedingham
India
