The bat is raised, the field is set, and South Africa’s summer soundtrack is about to echo once more. Betway SA20 Season 4 strides to the crease on Boxing Day at Newlands, promising a festive feast where cricket’s royalty rub shoulders with the game’s next generation.
Like a well-balanced XI, the league blends star power with rising talent, and nowhere was that clearer than at the Captain’s Day press conference in Cape Town.
League Commissioner Graeme Smith stood flanked by some of the game’s most recognisable names: Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis, Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Keshav Maharaj and Tristan Stubbs, each a different weapon in South Africa’s cricketing armoury.
Smith, the architect at the top of the order, believes the league has reached a sweet spot after three seasons of careful construction.
SA20 Commissioner Graeme Smith during the Betway SA20 Captain’s day prior to the start of season 4. Held at the Westin Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa on the 23rd December 2025. Pic:Betway SA20
“I’m very excited. I think from our perspective, it has been three great seasons building up to where we are now,” Smith said.
“We are really looking forward to a great summer of cricket. The players on my left and right, having spoken to them this morning, are also really looking forward to performing well over the next coming weeks.
“We’re starting to see an influx of talent performing well. It’s an incredible opportunity for those youngsters to be exposed to the quality of the game, to learn and to use the League as a platform for them.
“It’s not just the 15 players that play for South Africa in the year, but another 60-odd players that have developed.”
If SA20 is a proving ground, then Aiden Markram is stepping onto fresh turf. After three trophy-laden seasons with Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the Proteas star now dons new colours at Durban’s Super Giants.
“It’s exciting being with the new team,” Markram said.
“The competition is such a great time of year in South Africa. I’ve said it now quite a few times, but guys really enjoy it. The fans love it.”
The league’s growth is perhaps best measured not in runs or wickets, but in stories like Tristan Stubbs. Once a Rising Star, the Gqeberha product now captains Sunrisers Eastern Cape; a local lad leading local heroes.
“I’m really excited and just keen to get going. We sort of followed a similar blueprint to the first year. A lot of the team is based around local boys who know PE, live in and around PE. Just being a PE boy brings that culture and that extra fight to play for the team in front of a home crowd,” Stubbs said.
In Johannesburg, Faf du Plessis finds himself shepherding a youthful flock at Joburg Super Kings, where experience and exuberance are expected to bat in partnership.
“I feel there was a shift in his (Fleming) style when it comes to looking at younger players and backing younger players,” Du Plessis said.
“This year especially we have a very young squad. When I walked into the dressing room and I saw all the young faces, I was like, we need Imran (Tahir).
“That’s the nature of the beast of SA20. Young guys will get an opportunity probably a little bit earlier than they would have in domestic cricket.”
Paarl Royals’ David Miller echoed the sentiment, predicting that youthful hunger could be the tournament’s most dangerous weapon.
“There’s going to be a lot of energy, enthusiasm from the youngsters and a lot of guys that are still wanting to achieve a lot in their careers. So that’s going to be driving them and the team to do well,” Miller said.
“This is the month to enjoy the season and have a lot of fun and play extremely competitive cricket at the same time.”
At Pretoria Capitals, a new chapter begins for Keshav Maharaj, trading coastal spin for Highveld bounce as he takes over leadership duties.
“Every novel opens with a new chapter, so I’m really looking forward to it,” Maharaj said. “I’ve always wanted to test myself on the Highveld in my career and this is a wonderful opportunity.
“We’ll try to go one step ahead and look to put our best foot forward as a franchise.”
Meanwhile, MI Cape Town’s title defence will be fuelled by familiarity. With Rashid Khan set to arrive later in the week, Kagiso Rabada stood in as captain and spoke of the invisible threads that bind championship teams.
“Familiarity is a key thing. You need to bond with your teammates,” Rabada said. “The synergy goes a long way. It’s proven to be a successful value for MI across the board.
“Super thrilled the strategy came to life and now we just have to put the finishing touches.”
Fan appetite suggests SA20’s momentum is still accelerating. Tickets are flying like lofted cover drives, with the opening clash between MI Cape Town and Durban’s Super Giants already sold out. Limited tickets remain at stadium ticket offices, while all fixtures are available via SA20.co.za.
As the festive season unfolds, SA20 Season 4 is poised to deliver fireworks, a summer where new stars rise, old hands steady the ship, and South African cricket continues to bat with fearless intent.
