The upcoming SA20 2026 auction is generating significant buzz, with 13 Indian cricketers registering for the event. Among the notable names are Dinesh Karthik and Piyush Chawla, both veterans with considerable experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and international cricket.
The auction is scheduled for September 9, and the fourth edition of the SA20 league will take place from December 26, 2025, to January 25, 2026. This earlier start is due to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which India and Sri Lanka will co-host in February and March 2026.
Indian Players in the Auction Pool
Besides Karthik and Chawla, the list of Indian players registered for the SA20 2026 auction includes Siddharth Kaul, Ankit Rajpoot, Mahesh Ahir, Sarul Kanwar, Anureet Singh Kathuria, Nikhil Jaga, Mohamed Faidh, KS Naveen, Ansari Marouf, Imran Khan, Venkatesh Galipelly, and Atul Yadav.
According to BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) regulations, only players who have retired from Indian cricket and the IPL are allowed to participate in overseas franchise leagues. This ensures that active Indian players remain committed to Indian cricket.
Base Prices
The base price for every Indian cricketer in the auction is 200,000 Rand, except for Piyush Chawla, who has a reserve price of 1,000,000 Rand. Imran Khan has a base value of 500,000 Rand. Chawla's higher base price likely reflects his experience and stature as a World Cup-winning player and a successful IPL bowler.
Dinesh Karthik's SA20 Experience
Dinesh Karthik is the only Indian player with prior SA20 league experience. He played for Paarl Royals in the previous season, scoring 130 runs in 11 innings. Karthik had retired from all forms of international cricket and the IPL before participating in the SA20 league.
Auction Dynamics and Rules
A total of 784 players have registered for the SA20 2026 auction, but only 84 slots are available across the six franchises. This limited number of slots will likely lead to intense competition among the teams.
Each team has a salary cap of R41 million (Rs. 20.42 crores), which is considered the second-highest among T20 leagues worldwide, behind the IPL. The SA20 auction will also feature Right to Match (RTM) cards for the first time, adding a new strategic element to the proceedings. The number of RTM cards available to each team will depend on the number of South African players they retained before the auction.
Teams can retain a maximum of six players, with a maximum of three South African and three overseas players each. Each squad must have 19 players, including a minimum of 11 South African players and a maximum of 7 international players.
Changes for SA20 2026
Unlike previous seasons, there will be no Rookie Draft in 2026. Instead, teams must sign a minimum of two Under-23 players in their final 19-player squads. This change aims to streamline the player selection process and give teams more direct control over squad building.
Richard Madley, a veteran auctioneer with experience in both the SA20 and IPL auctions, will conduct the proceedings.
The SA20 2026 auction promises to be an exciting event with significant changes and a large pool of players vying for limited slots. The inclusion of seasoned Indian cricketers like Dinesh Karthik and Piyush Chawla adds further intrigue to the competition.
