With the SA20 2025 auction nearing, Chris Morris believes Aiden Markram will be one of the biggest attractions. The former South Africa all-rounder expects the Proteas batter to spark a fierce bidding war in Johannesburg on September 9.
“Sunrisers haven’t retained him, but they do have a right-to-match card, meaning they can match the final bid for him and retain his services,” Morris explained, as quoted from SA20.
Why Markram Could Trigger a Bidding War
Morris noted that rival teams may push Markram’s price higher to trouble Sunrisers.
“That opens the door for mind games — other teams could bid aggressively to push his price high enough to make it difficult for the Sunrisers to bring him back,” he said.
Teams Likely to Target Markram
Morris mentioned two franchises that could strongly chase the South African batter.
“Two teams stand out to me: MI Cape Town, which would solve their captaincy question — not that Rashid Khan is doing a bad job — but having a successful local international captain at number four would be a big boost, especially since they’ve released Rassie van der Dussen, leaving a vacancy at number three. The other is Pretoria Capitals, who have one of the largest remaining purses. He’s a local player, would fill their captaincy role, slot in at number three, and bring strong leadership after Rilee Rossouw’s stint last year. Either way, Aiden Markram is going to be hot property,” he added.
Auction and Wildcard Updates
SA20 confirmed each franchise was allowed six retained or pre-signed players, with a maximum of three South Africans and three overseas players. The retention window closed on July 18. Teams also completed wildcard signings ahead of the auction.
This year’s auction offers 84 slots, with USD 7.4 million in purse value. Stars such as Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Jos Buttler, and Jonny Bairstow are already confirmed.
The September 9 auction will shape the upcoming SA20 season. The new edition begins on December 26 and promises another blockbuster tournament in South Africa’s premier T20 league.
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