SA20 2025 All-Stars: the ultimate XI that dominated Season 3
As the dust settles on the 2025 edition of the SA20 competition, the tournament has left yet another lasting mark on world cricket. Here, Obakeng Meletse selects his team of the tournament.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 #𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐒𝐀𝟐𝟎 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐫𝐮𝐧-𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐫 🔝
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) February 10, 2025
Maximum deals only for Lhuan-dre Pretorius in his debut season for Paarl Royals 🤌🩷#SummerOfCricket | @NakedCover_SA pic.twitter.com/VqedTgLHqI
No 1: Lhuan-dre Pretorius
Just a year ago, Pretorius stepped onto the field wearing South African colours as they hosted the Under-19 World Cup. A year later, he has firmly established himself as the future of South African cricket, showcasing a fearless style of play. He had the privilege of opening the batting alongside one of the game’s finest, Joe Root, and his impressive 397 runs in the tournament highlighted both his talent and potential on the world stage. His tournament strike-rate of 166.81 was crucial, particularly in his partnership with Root, as the duo complemented each other perfectly during the Paarl Royals’ strong run.
No 2: Ryan Rickelton (Wicket-keeper)
Made for the big moments, Rickelton backed up his second season performance, which saw him top the run-scoring charts with 530 runs, with yet another important contribution of 336 runs in just eight matches. Throughout the season, the wickets proved to be challenging, with batters having to graft hard for runs. Rickelton was striking at 178.72 at the top of the order, and his three half-centuries played a key role in giving the MI Cape Town solid starts upfront.
No 3: Joe Root
A world-class talent with a rare combination of skills, composure, and the ability to consistently adapt to the demands of the game, the English international was the crucial element missing in the Paarl Royals' quest for the title. It was unfortunate that his departure from the tournament came when it did, as he had to fulfil international commitments, but his impact was evident from the start. A significant part of the Royals' decline occurred just as he was preparing to leave. With 279 runs in just eight matches, including three half-centuries and a top score of 92, the 34-year-old stood tall, thriving on surfaces where many other batters struggled to find their rhythm.
Cape Town was straight b̶u̶s̶s̶i̶n̶ 𝗗𝗨𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗡 this #BetwaySA20 season 🔝💙🏏#MICapeTown #OneFamily | Rassie van der Dussen pic.twitter.com/SgETQA1iUb
— MI Cape Town (@MICapeTown) February 10, 2025
No 4: Rassie van der Dussen
Easily one of the best South African white-ball players in the last five years, Van der Dussen was at his destructive best throughout the tournament and he narrowly missed out on being the top run scorer by five runs. The hard-hitting, experienced campaigner’s calming presence with the bat and ability to step up the gears gave MI Cape Town a perfect weapon at the top of the order. Van der Dussen’s ability to assess match situations, absorb pressure, and accelerate later in the innings showcased his excellence throughout the tournament, cementing his status as one of the best in the format.
No 5: Aiden Markram (Captain)
He came within one match of leading the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to their third title in a row, while his role as captain and batter was tested throughout the campaign. The Gqeberha-based outfit had to battle through a season with a lot of ups and downs, and through it all, the South African captain led the way with the bat and was consistently within the top five of the highest run scorers in the tournament to end on 340 runs in 13 matches. His standout performances were particularly impressive, as they came at crucial moments when his team needed him the most.
No 6: Rubin Hermann
The talented 28-year-old had to wait, but as soon as he was given the green light, he had a roaring impact and he never looked back. The elegant left-hander scored an impressive 333 runs in his debut season in the tournament and his three half-centuries played a huge role in continuing the early momentum the Royals had heading into the knockout stages.
Dewald Brevis' all 25 Aesthetic Sixes in this year's SA20. Has been a breakthrough year for him.pic.twitter.com/fpVndszmoW
— •𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐆𝐮𝐲 𝟐𝟕• (@TCG_27) February 9, 2025
No 7: Dewald Brevis
Brevis is without a doubt one of the most talented players in the country and even though things haven’t progressed as they should have for him, this was the best opportunity for him to show why he is highly rated. His telling blows and useful knocks in the tournament injected a lot of positive momentum into MICT’s innings and his half-ton at the start of the tournament was just the confidence booster he needed as he kicked on nicely thereafter to end the tournament in sixth place on 291 runs in 12 matches.
#BetwaySA20 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒 🥇
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) February 8, 2025
The 𝑩𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 goes to Marco Jansen#WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/owi2isOMFz
No 8: Marco Jansen
The lanky all-rounder lived up to expectations as he once again ran through opposition batting line-ups with an impressive 19 wickets in 13 matches to end his second consecutive season as the leading wicket-taker. Hard to believe he is still 24-years-old, with everything he has achieved and the barriers he promises to break. The balance in his game is rare, and even though there is still a lot of room to improve, he is as good as they come. Jansen also notched up a half-century in the tournament and contributed a handy 204 runs with the bat.
"𝙔𝙀𝙎 𝙂𝙀𝙊𝙍𝙂𝙄𝙀" 🙌🏅#MICapeTown #OneFamily #MICTvSEC #BetwaySA20Final | George Linde pic.twitter.com/bUM0qHvkxR
— MI Cape Town (@MICapeTown) February 10, 2025
No 9: George Linde
Quietly the best in the business with both bat and ball, George Linde is a true definition of why MI Cape Town are champions. The left-arm orthodox bowler had a solid time out and played handy knocks with the bat, scoring an impressive 161 runs with a high score of 48. But it was his 11 wickets at an economy of 6.29 that showed his class, as he not only dried up the runs outside the powerplay, but he also managed to take some key scalps with the new ball within the first six overs.
No 10: Kagiso Rabada
The right-arm quick bowler had a solid tournament with the ball, achieving best figures of 4/25 and picking up 12 wickets in the tournament. His partnership with Trent Boult was easily the best new ball pair in the tournament, and together they picked up 23 wickets, which were key to the Cape side's success in the campaign. Rabada was the most economical bowler in the top 10, with a rate of 6.53, despite his responsibilities to bowl with the new ball and at the end of the innings.
No 11: Noor Ahmad
The Afghan spinner tested both ends of the bat the most in his short stay in the tournament. At just 20 years of age, the Durban Super Giants spinner has proven to be a world-class operator. Had his team lasted longer in the tournament, he was guaranteed to add to his 13 wickets.