Big names like Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock dominate SA20 Season 4 auction headlines.

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The hype ahead of SA20 Season 4 gathered pace today as the organizers announced an intriguing player auction on September 9, 2025, in Johannesburg. At the forefront of the excitement are South African legends Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock. Still, one prominent absence raised questions - the absence of Indian players from the final shortlist.

This year's auction pool is record-breaking in size, with more than 800 players signing up, the most significant number in the competition's four-year history, before being reduced to a final list of 541 players. Of the number, 300 are South Africans and 241 are overseas imports.

Homegrown Heroes Lead the Charge

Aiding the national contingent at the front is Proteas T20I skipper Aiden Markram, who commands a brilliant record. He led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to consecutive SA20 championships in 2023 and 2024, and narrowly lost the title in 2025, finishing second.

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Sharing the limelight with Markram are veteran campaigners such as Quinton de Kock, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Reeza Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ottniel Baartman, and Gerald Coetzee.

Also making the list are South Africa's champions of the ICC World Test Championship: Kyle Verreynne, David Bedingham, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Tony de Zorzi, and Dane Paterson.

The global talent pool boasts marquee players set to fuel bidding wars: Bangladesh great Shakib al Hasan, a likely first-ever Bangladeshi in SA20, and fellow countryman Mustafizur Rahman are still on the radar. England's veterans James Anderson, Alex Hales, Moeen Ali, Tom Abell, Adam Rossington, Jordan Cox, and Daniel Worrall lead the star quota.

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Compounding the interest are confrontational hitters such as Australia's D'Arcy Short and New Zealand's Devon Conway, South African-born but currently playing abroad. 

Surprise: No Indians Shortlisted

Despite registrations by the likes of Piyush Chawla, Siddharth Kaul, and even recently retired Ravichandran Ashwin, none of them were included in the final 541-player shortlist. These surprising omissions represent a significant break from the trend seen in earlier versions and will be the subject of much discussion among fans and commentators alike.

Auction Structure and Broadcast

Franchises will bid from a sizable kitty of R131 million (~USD 7.37 million) to fill 84 roster places, 25 of which will be available for foreign players. Each of the six franchises must form a 19-player unit, comprising at least nine South Africans, no more than seven internationals, two Under-23 South Africans, and one Wildcard selection.

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Speaking before the auction, ex-all-rounder Chris Morris forecasted a blockbuster war for Markram's services, even going as far as to say that "Markram will ignite a bidding war."

Why Are Indian Players Missing From SA20 Auction?

Indian fans will experience live coverage through JioHotstar, broadcast in Africa via SuperSport, and in the UK through Sky Sports. In addition to that, international audiences can watch the action unfold on the SA20 YouTube channel, along with comprehensive social media coverage.

Overall, the SA20 Season 4 auction promises to be a show full of star power, strategic intrigue, and an interesting lack of Indian cricketers on the shortlist. Eyes will be on the September 9 event in Johannesburg as India's absence casts its shadow over the auction storyline.