MI Cape Town Squad and Schedule SA20 2027: Full 19 & Times

Rashid, Rabada, Boult and Pooran: Inside MI Cape Town's SA20 Season 5 Squad

Who leads the team?

Rashid Khan captains MI Cape Town, as he has done since the very first season. Robin Peterson is head coach.

Who did they sign at the auction?

All-rounder Wiaan Mulder was their biggest buy at R2.6 million. They also brought back left-arm fast bowler Trent Boult and added West Indies hitter Shimron Hetmyer, both for R1.5 million.

Who has left?

Rassie van der Dussen, who played for them in all four seasons, joined Pretoria Capitals, and Kieron Pollard moved to Joburg Super Kings.

When is their first match?

Wednesday, January 20, 2027, at home to Joburg Super Kings at Newlands (5:30 PM local, 9:00 PM IST, 10:30 AM ET).

The Story: Champions or Bottom, Never In Between

MI Cape Town are the SA20's most unpredictable team. They finished last in each of the first two seasons, then stormed to the title in 2025. Last season they fell straight back to sixth, winning only three of their 10 league games.

For readers new to the competition: the SA20 is South Africa's franchise T20 league. Six city-based teams play each other twice, 10 games each, and the top four reach the playoffs. In T20 cricket each team bats for a maximum of 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries), so a match lasts about three and a half hours.

Last season was not short of individual brilliance. Opener Ryan Rickelton was the top run-scorer of the league stage with 337 runs at a strike rate of 156, including two centuries, and all-rounder Corbin Bosch took 13 wickets. The problem was turning those performances into wins.

That explains the shake-up at the October 7, 2026 auction. MI Cape Town kept their core but spent big on balance, adding an all-rounder, a proven new-ball bowler and a finisher.

The Talking Points

Mulder Is the Big Buy

Wiaan Mulder cost R2.6 million, the franchise's biggest spend of the auction. He is an all-rounder, a player who both bats and bowls, which gives the side more depth in both departments.

Boult Back in Blue

Trent Boult was not on MI Cape Town's retention list, but they bought him back at the auction for R1.5 million. The New Zealand left-armer specialises in swinging the new ball, which makes him dangerous in the first six overs.

Hetmyer Adds Power

West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer, also signed for R1.5 million, gives the middle order a big-hitting finisher to bat around Rickelton and Nicholas Pooran.

Two Familiar Faces Gone

Rassie van der Dussen, a fixture of the side for all four seasons, joined Pretoria Capitals for R500,000. Kieron Pollard left for Joburg Super Kings for R1.5 million. Joburg also beat MI Cape Town in several bidding wars at the auction, including for Faf du Plessis.

Rabada the Wildcard

Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is the team's wildcard, a special extra signing each team can make on top of its regular player allocation. With Rabada and Boult, MI Cape Town have one of the strongest new-ball attacks in the league.

The Full MI Cape Town Squad

(c) captain. 19 players in total. Will Jacks was a pre-signing. Boult and Hetmyer were bought at the auction.

Auction Buys

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Players to Watch

Rashid Khan (c): The captain and one of the best leg-spinners in the world, hard to score off in any phase of the game.

Ryan Rickelton: The top run-scorer of last season's league stage, with two centuries, sets the tone at the top of the order.

Kagiso Rabada: The wildcard brings genuine pace and wicket-taking threat with the new ball and at the death.

Trent Boult: A left-arm swing bowler who can win a game in the first six overs.

Wiaan Mulder: The biggest buy of their auction, giving the side balance with bat and ball.

Nicholas Pooran: One of T20 cricket's cleanest hitters, especially against spin.

MI Cape Town Fixtures (Local, IST and ET)

All matches are in South Africa. Five are at home at Newlands, Cape Town, and five are away.

Home games in bold. Local time is South Africa Standard Time (SAST, UTC+2). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). ET is US Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5). Every start falls on the same calendar date in all three zones.

The two Paarl Royals games come back to back, on January 22 at Newlands and January 24 at Boland Park, a Western Cape derby double between grounds about 60 kilometres apart.

Playoffs (If They Qualify)

The final is at MI Cape Town's home ground, so a run to the title would end in front of their own fans.

Stat Corner

MI Cape Town in the SA20

Last Season's Standouts

The Season at a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the MI Cape Town captain for SA20 2027?

Rashid Khan, who has captained the team since the first season.

Who did MI Cape Town buy at the SA20 2027 auction?

Wiaan Mulder (R2.6 million), Trent Boult (R1.5 million), Shimron Hetmyer (R1.5 million), and Lehan Botha, Daniel Smith and Oliver Whitehead (R200,000 each).

Is Kieron Pollard still at MI Cape Town?

No. Pollard joined Joburg Super Kings for R1.5 million at the auction.

When do MI Cape Town play their first match?

Wednesday, January 20, 2027, at home to Joburg Super Kings at Newlands. It starts at 5:30 PM local time, 9:00 PM IST and 10:30 AM ET.

Have MI Cape Town won the SA20?

Yes, once, in 2025. They finished sixth in each of the other three seasons.

Where is the SA20 2027 final?

At Newlands, MI Cape Town's home ground, on Sunday, February 21.

Related Guides and Series Coverage

📋 SA20 2027 Full Schedule, Fixtures and Venues

📋 Paarl Royals Squad and Schedule for SA20 2027: Joe Root Returns as Miller's Royals Chase a First Final

📋 T20 Cricket Explained: Rules, Format and How It Works

📋 What Is an Over in Cricket?