With the SA20 Season 4 Player Auction just around the corner, former Proteas all-rounder Chris Morris has shared his thoughts on what promises to be the league’s most competitive auction yet. Known for his sharp cricketing insights and understanding of team strategies, Morris believes this year’s dynamics will make for fascinating viewing.
Speaking to SuperSport ahead of the Season 4 auction, former Proteas all-rounder Chris Morris shared his excitement and early observations:
“The auction is always exciting, no matter the tournament, but SA20 is the big one, with most of the players back in the pool. There have been a lot of retentions and several wild cards picked up, so it will be interesting to see how the teams go about building their squads. Some teams have plenty of money to spend, while others have already filled half their squads and don’t have much left in the purse.
This means a lot of domestic players will be putting their hands up this season, and they’re likely to get opportunities because of the financial dynamics at play. I’ve already started my homework, looking at the teams, the squads, and who’s available, and I have a few ideas of where players might land. It’s a great time of the year, and SA20 is going to be even bigger this season.”
The six franchises will have a combined purse of USD 7.4 million to fill 84 slots and complete their 19-player squads — making this the biggest SA20 auction since the league’s inception in 2022. The deadline for player registrations, both local and overseas, is fast approaching, with the cut-off set for Monday, August 18, 2025 at 20:30 IST.
Turning to the big-name draws in this year’s auction, Morris singled out Aiden Markram as one of the headline acts, saying:
“Sunrisers haven’t retained him, but they do have a right-to-match card, meaning they can match the final bid for him and retain his services. That opens the door for mind games — other teams could bid aggressively to push his price high enough to make it difficult for the Sunrisers to bring him back. Two teams stand out to me: MI Cape Town, which would solve their captaincy question — not that Rashid Khan is doing a bad job — but having a successful local international captain at number four would be a big boost, especially since they’ve released Rassie van der Dussen, leaving a vacancy at number three.
The other is Pretoria Capitals, who have one of the largest remaining purses. He’s a local player, would fill their captaincy role, slot in at number three, and bring strong leadership after Rilee Rossouw’s stint last year. Either way, Aiden Markram is going to be hot property.”
Last year’s auction saw almost 600 players register from across the globe. The list of retained and pre-signed stars already boasts the likes of Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and England’s Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow . The new season begins December 26, 2025 , with the auction scheduled for September 9, 2025 in Johannesburg, broadcast live on JioHotstar from 17:00 IST in India.
SA20 Head of Cricket Operations, Stephen Cook, said:
“The SA20 Player Auction is always a very exciting time in the build-up to the new season. This year’s event will be even more entertaining due to the number of player slots and the maximum USD 7.4 million purse available. Player registrations have been flooding in, with South African and overseas players putting their hat in the ring for valuable opportunities.”
When asked about players who could spark intense bidding wars, Morris highlighted a mix of young stars and proven performers:
“I think Kwena Maphaka is going to be at the centre of a bidding frenzy. Dewald Brevis is another, given he hasn’t been retained. Rassie van der Dussen, with his experience, could also be in demand. Personally, I always look out for the player who ends up going for a surprisingly high price — the buy of the tournament that no one saw coming. For me, Delano Potgieter could be that player.
He’s been successful in SA20, has done well for MI Cape Town, and is a proven performer in domestic cricket. He covers multiple roles and adds great balance to a squad — the kind of player I’d sign straight away.”
India
