SA20 starts on 17 January 2027, with Sunrisers Eastern Cape hosting Pretoria Capitals. The October auction is complete and Faf du Plessis is back with Joburg Super Kings. Newlands hosts the final on 21 February.
Current position: 2 November 2026
The season runs from 17 January to 21 February. Defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape open at St George's Park, while the other five teams begin their campaigns during the following three days.
The 7 October auction filled the remaining squad places. Jason Rowles was the biggest buy at R2.9 million for Joburg Super Kings, who also brought back Faf du Plessis for R2.7 million.
| Team | Player | Auction price |
|---|---|---|
| Joburg Super Kings | Jason Rowles | R2.9 million |
| Joburg Super Kings | Faf du Plessis | R2.7 million |
| MI Cape Town | Wiaan Mulder | R2.6 million |
| MI Cape Town | Trent Boult | R1.5 million |
| MI Cape Town | Shimron Hetmyer | R1.5 million |
| Pretoria Capitals | Rassie van der Dussen | R500,000 |
| Pretoria Capitals | Temba Bavuma | R200,000 |
| Sunrisers Eastern Cape | Nandre Burger | R500,000 |
Fixtures and dates
| Date | Match | Venue | SAST |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 January | Sunrisers Eastern Cape v Pretoria Capitals | St George's Park | 15:30 |
| 18 January | Paarl Royals v Joburg Super Kings | Boland Park | 17:30 |
| 19 January | Pretoria Capitals v Durban's Super Giants | SuperSport Park | 17:30 |
| 20 January | MI Cape Town v Joburg Super Kings | Newlands | 17:30 |
| 21 January | Durban's Super Giants v Sunrisers Eastern Cape | Kingsmead | 17:30 |
| 22 January | MI Cape Town v Paarl Royals | Newlands | 17:30 |
| 23 January | Durban's Super Giants v Pretoria Capitals | Kingsmead | 13:00 |
| 23 January | Joburg Super Kings v Sunrisers Eastern Cape | Wanderers | 17:30 |
| 24 January | Paarl Royals v MI Cape Town | Boland Park | 15:30 |
The first Saturday double-header is on 23 January, with matches in Durban and Johannesburg. MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals meet twice in three days, first at Newlands and then at Boland Park.
What changed at the auction
Du Plessis' return changes the Joburg story from his initial release. JSK also bought Kieron Pollard for R1.5 million, adding another experienced batter alongside the larger investment in Rowles.
MI Cape Town added Mulder, Boult and Hetmyer. That is a substantial set of additions across batting, seam bowling and all-round options, rather than a single headline signing.
Pretoria's purchases of Van der Dussen and Bavuma came at a combined R700,000. Auction cost is not a form table, but it does show how differently the teams used the remaining places.
| Team | Home ground |
|---|---|
| Durban's Super Giants | Kingsmead, Durban |
| Joburg Super Kings | Wanderers, Johannesburg |
| MI Cape Town | Newlands, Cape Town |
| Paarl Royals | Boland Park, Paarl |
| Pretoria Capitals | SuperSport Park, Centurion |
| Sunrisers Eastern Cape | St George's Park, Gqeberha |
The playoffs finish at Newlands
| Date | Match | Venue | SAST |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 February | Qualifier 1 | Boland Park | 17:30 |
| 17 February | Eliminator | Wanderers | 17:30 |
| 19 February | Qualifier 2 | Wanderers | 17:30 |
| 21 February | Final | Newlands | 15:30 |
The top two meet in Qualifier 1, with the winner reaching the final. Third and fourth play the Eliminator; its winner then faces the Qualifier 1 loser for the second final place.
That second chance gives a top-two finish a different value from simply reaching the playoffs. The league stage runs through 14 February, leaving little gap before the knockout matches.
General ticket sales open on 5 November
The ticket presale runs through 4 November, with general sales opening on 5 November. Fever is the ticketing partner for the season.
The final is in Cape Town, not at the home ground of whichever team tops the table. Keep the match venue in mind when planning around the playoff dates.
Joburg start with two away matches
Joburg visit Paarl on 18 January and Cape Town on 20 January before their first home match against Sunrisers on 23 January. Du Plessis' return therefore starts with two away assignments, not a run at the Wanderers.
Our cricket previews cover individual fixtures. The Proteas v Australia recap records the completed October Test series, a different format from this competition.
Use our SA betting sites comparison alongside the cricket coverage. A season outright needs a different assessment from a match-winner bet or a batter runs line.
Questions about SA20 2027
When does SA20 2027 start?
Sunrisers Eastern Cape host Pretoria Capitals on 17 January 2027 at 15:30 SAST.
Where is the SA20 2027 final?
The final is at Newlands in Cape Town on 21 February 2027 at 15:30 SAST.
Which SA20 team signed Faf du Plessis at the auction?
Joburg Super Kings bought him back for R2.7 million at the 7 October 2026 auction.
When do SA20 general ticket sales open?
General ticket sales open on 5 November 2026, following a presale that ends on 4 November.