Prior to the 2025 edition of the South Africa-based T20 tournament, the SA20 franchises Joburg Super Kings, Durban Super Giant, and Paarl Royals have announced their retentions. Joburg Super Kings, which is based in Wanderers, will be led by Faf du Plessis once again. The Wanderers-based team released their SA20 2025 retention list on August 1.
For the Super Kings, Du Plessis has been a fantastic player, amassing 608 runs at a strike-rate of 145.10 and an average of 35.76 over the last two seasons. It comprises five more half-centuries in addition to the first-ever SA20 century. Just eighteen runs separates Du Plessis and his JSK opening partner Leus du Plooy, who has also been retained, in the record book for SA20 run scorers. With a strike rate of 149.76 and an average of 44.71, Du Plooy has amassed 626 runs in 19 innings.
In 2025, the Super Kings have augmented their batting lineup with the formidable might of England’s Jonny Bairstow. With a plethora of experience that includes winning the 2019 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup and several seasons spent competing in the Indian Premier League, Bairstow joins the Wanderers.
Maheesh Theekshana, a mystery spinner from Sri Lanka who played for JSK in Season 1, will also make a second appearance at the Bullring. Theekshana will be a part of JSK’s formidable spin attack, which also includes Englishman Moeen Ali and seasoned leg-spinner Imran Tahir. By sending mysterious wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi to the Paarl Royals in exchange for all-rounder Dayyaan Galiem, they have increased their spin threat even further. The Super Kings have spared no effort in making sure that their left-arm pacer Nandre Burger, the ever-dependable Lizaad Williams, and the explosive Gerald Coetzee are all part of their fast bowling attack.
The all-around abilities of Donovan Ferreira, Sibonelo Makhanya, and former Namibian international David Wiese will support them.
Joburg Super Kings retentions for SA20 2025
Faf du Plessis (captain), Leus du Plooy, Imran Tahir, David Wiese, Donovan Ferreira, Moeen Ali, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Lizaad Williams, Sibonelo Makhanya.
Pre-signed overseas: Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka), Jonny Bairstow (England)
Trade-in: Tabraiz Shamsi (from Paarl Royals, for Dayyaan Galiem)
In addition, Durban’s Super Giants, who made it to the final last season for the first time, unveiled a star-studded retention list. With this team, the Super Giants hope to take it a step farther. The addition of West Indian opener Brandon King, England all-rounder Chris Woakes, and New Zealand sensation Kane Williamson had greatly improved the team’s quality. Marcus Stoinis, an Australian all-rounder who made a brief appearance at Kingsmead last season as the Season 3 Wildcard, will also be back. After been included in the official ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Team of the Tournament for his impressive efforts in the Caribbean with both bat and ball, he will undoubtedly seek to make a significant impact.
After leading the Afghans to their first-ever major event semi-final in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he took 13 wickets at 26.4, seam bowler Naveen-ul-Haq is also back in the blue and green of the Super Giants. Noor Ahmad, a compatriot from Afghanistan, who took Dilshan Madushanka’s spot as Sri Lanka’s speedster the previous season, has also been kept. The 19-year-old defeated the Paarl Royals with a five-for-11, earning the first five-for of Season 2. He plans to replicate his efforts the next year.
Player of the Tournament for the SA20 Season 2 Along with captain Keshav Maharaj, Prenelan Subrayen, Dwaine Pretorius, Jon-Jon Smuts, Wiaan Mulder, Junior Dala, Matthew Breetzke, Jason Smith, and Quinton De Kock, Heinrich Klaasen is the only player on the list of players who have been retained domestically. Bryce Parsons, the rookie from the previous season, has also been kept on, and it is likely that he will try to open his DSG account this coming campaign.
Durban Super Giants retentions for SA20 2025
Keshav Maharaj (captain), Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan), Matthew Breetzke, Junior Dala, Quinton De Kock, Wiaan Mulder, Naveen-ul-Haq (Afghanistan), Bryce Parsons, Dwaine Pretorius, Jason Smith, Jon-Jon Smuts, Prenelan Subrayen.
Pre-signed overseas: Brandon King (West Indies), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Chris Woakes (England).
Wildcard: Marcus Stoinis (Australia)
Meanwhile, by keeping a strong collection of young players, Paarl Royals have given their team a youthful boost. The Boland Park-based club has relied on 18-year-old fast bowling phenom Kwena Maphaka as well as Rookie acquisitions Nqaba Peter and Lhuan-dre Pretorius from the previous season. After the hard-hitting opening batsman was called up to the South Africa U19 squad for the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup, leg-spinner Peter took Pretorius’ place ahead of Season 2. Maphaka, who partnered with Pretorius in the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup, has also not yet appeared for the Royals. In a thrilling match, the left-arm seamer claimed 21 wickets, making the St. Stithians wizard named Player of the Tournament.
Last season, Peter made his Royals debut at St George’s Park against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, where captain David Miller gave him the crucial last over. The 21-year-old was able to accomplish remarkable things in the Cricket SA T20 Challenge because of the exposure he received.
In the Caribbean series against the West Indies, Peter made his Proteas T20 International debut with 20 wickets at an average of 9.50.The Proteas-capped players Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Bjorn Fortuin, and Andile Phehlukwayo are among the seven South African players that the Royals, who have advanced to the playoffs in both of their prior SA20 campaigns, have kept. Mitchell van Buuren, a middle-order batsman, seamer Codi Yusuf, and all-rounder Keith Dudgeon are also still with them.Additionally, Yusuf was just called up to the South Africa “A” team for their impending series against the Sri Lanka “A.”
Additionally, the Royals made the third (and second) deal in SA20 history when they sent veteran spinner Tabraiz Shamsi to the Super Kings and former Joburg Super Kings all-rounder Dayyaan Galiem to Boland Park.
“We are excited to have a strong core of South African players, both capped and uncapped, heading into the forthcoming auction. It was crucial to reevaluate the team and make some adjustments following the disappointing season in which we faded in the later stages of the competition. The players we recruit at the auction will further enhance this core, which we think has a variety of qualities and will provide a strong foundation,” stated Kumar Sangakkara, Director of Cricket for the Royals.
Also Read: Paarl Royals maintain a strong South African core for Season 3 of SA20
“At the same time, there were multiple difficult decisions we had to make considering the balance of our side, including letting go of someone like Tabraiz Shamsi, who made significant contributions to the franchise over the past couple of seasons,” Sangakkara said.
Paarl Royals South African retentions for SA20 2025
David Miller (captain), Keith Dudgeon, Bjorn Fortuin, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Mitchell van Buuren, Codi Yusuf.
Pre-signed overseas: Joe Root (England)
Trade-in: Dayyaan Galiem (from Joburg Super Kings, for Tabraiz Shamsi)
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