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Not the way we’d planned, but a washout is how MI Cape Town get first points. A peak Sunday evening game, set up perfectly by the previous clash between these two sides that saw nearly 450 runs being scored on the night, sadly is one where rain has the last laugh.&nbsp;In the four overs where some play was possible, the DSG openers were off to a good start, but Corbin Bosch managed to pull things back with just five runs in the fourth over. At 37/0, the covers came on, and alas, stayed on.&nbsp;MI Cape Town will come back home now, to host the Pretoria Capitals in a night clash on Wednesday (December 31). We couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend out New Year’s Eve, and welcome 2026 with fireworks at Newlands!

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DSGvMICT report: A rain-marred evening allows just four overs of play

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It was some game. A run-fest, a crazy exhibition of hitting, a game that kept switching hands, a batting masterclass for the ages, but sadly, not the result. Well, the universe, and of course, the scheduling, has given us the best possible thing to put the heartbreak behind us: an immediate reverse fixture against Durban’s Super Giants at Kingsmead.&nbsp;The Durban pitch and ground has the reputation of being a bigger six-hitting ground. It’s just scary how many more can be hit given we are coming off a game that saw nearly 450 runs being scored in 40 overs. Our batters are in form. Our bowlers will love the zip they’ll get here. We have a target in front of us. Bring. It. On.&nbsp;What: Durban’s Super Giants vs MI Cape Town&nbsp;When: December 28, 2025 | 3:30pm local time, 7:00pm IST&nbsp;Where: Kingsmead, Durban&nbsp;What to expect: Another nail-biter of a contest. There was hardly anything to choose between both teams at the end of the last game, and with smaller boundaries, expect something just as fiery!&nbsp;

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Match 2 | DSGvMICT preview: Just the reverse fixture we needed to mend this heartbreak

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A 63-ball 113 that is set to be spoken about for many, many years to come. Ryan Rickelton, unfortunately on the wrong side of the result, has managed to reverse his lack of runs in the earlier tour of India, and he believes it to be the Cape Town magic. He was at the post-match press conference, breaking down his innings and his mental prep. Excerpts..&nbsp;On coming back to form after a tough few months&nbsp;It’s been an up and down year. It started nicely but I had a tough white ball leg in India. It was a tough last couple of months, mentally and cricket wise in the sub-continent. Coming in, I was nervous today. I have tried to double down on my preparation. I have drawn a lot of confidence playing out here in Newlands. When you’re chasing 230 you don’t have a lot of time to think as well. You just have to take on the game and it brings out a nice version of me in T20 cricket. I had my fair share of luck tonight but was happy to find the middle of the bat again.&nbsp;Thoughts on the targetWith 230, you have to back yourself no matter how good the conditions are with the ball. Just try give yourself a chance. We have so much power in our lineup. I thought if we get off to a start, you never know. You’ve got to hedge your bets, sometimes fortune favours the brave. You’re probably going to get down to the last ball or you’re going to get bowled out for 120. The beauty of those kind of scores is that you have to play. You can’t take your time. The wicket was good and you just had to maximize.&nbsp;On clearing the boundary with ease&nbsp;It’s quite tricky because in Newlands it swells and the flags are quite low so it doesn’t give you a fair representation of what is happening. But honestly sometimes against the long boundary, if you get a gust, you fancy your option. Against the short boundary, if you get a gust against you, you might think otherwise. You try and balance it.&nbsp;On using the SA20 to make a case for the Proteas sideNot at all. In honestly, I have made my peace with it. I am trying to find my feet again with the bat and contribute to the team. Whatever happens, happens. This tournament is a platform for players to put their hands up, but I am not thinking about it. I want to win this tournament with this team. Just trying to enjoy the game, which when you’re in India, can be quite hard.&nbsp;The Cape Town effectI’m just happy I am in Cape Town. It is such a mental game for me. The conditions have been good for batting over the last couple of years. It’s quite a special place to play. Consistently, the wickets have been quite good for a period of time now. I enjoy the lifestyle here as well. Sometimes in cricket we dive into our heads and it is tough to get away. It’s what I think makes touring the sub-continent tough. The beauty of Cape Town, of South Africa, is that you get to get out and experience more than a game of cricket. I enjoy that. I have family and friends here. I didn’t have to think of the game until I walked onto the park. That’s the biggest blessing and the enjoyment I get out of playing in Newlands and Cape Town.&nbsp;On Jason Smith’s knockIt was amazing. Jason (Smith) has been playing amazing this whole summer from what I have seen and in these last few weeks in the nets he has been batting like that every single day. I knew if he could face a chunk of the balls we could be flying. We had a foot on their throats quite a bit. Unfortunately he got out to a slight mis-execution, but if he would have batted another ten balls, we would have rolled on quite nicely.&nbsp;On reuniting at the top with Rassie van der DussenThis one has a bit of a different feel for both of us. We may be coming in with a bit of lack of form, or maybe not finding our groove quite easily. I can speak for myself, Rassie has been striking it quite nicely, but we know the opportunity we have for the next three years to be playing for this team and group. We enjoy playing for each other. To have Reeza there as well, we have played a lot for the Lions. The three of us at the top there was quite special. We all want each other to do incredibly well, sometimes more than yourself. Hopefully the three of us can have a good tournament and we can roll along for another two years.&nbsp;On his batting plans in the powerplayYou’re probably not trying to make a big score. If I face 18 balls and my partner faces 18 balls, if we are 25-30 each, we have a good start. That’s the general base you play off. It varies with conditions, wickets, etc. That’s the beauty of these leagues. We have such good players behind us. We have superstars who can whack it out of the park as well. It kind of frees you up a bit. You get a match up or you get a sniff where you can take someone down, you back yourself to take them down. You have to factor in a few things when you lose a wicket and know when to pull the brakes a bit and when to kick on and accelerate, but the general rule is that if it is your day, like it was mine today, you scoop a big score.&nbsp;

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“Was very nervous today, but Newlands gave me confidence”: Ryan Rickelton

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Nearly. So, so nearly. We get within touching distance in a record 233-run chase, in a brave fight right until the end, refusing to give up and making sure the asking rate never went out of control, but alas, it isn’t to be. MI Cape Town Fam, we can be proud of this effort, but sadly don’t have the two points to show at the end of it..&nbsp;&nbsp;RYAN RICKELTON, YOU BEAUTY!Sheer career-defining stuff this. It’s not that the SA20 needed some extra lighting up, but Ryan Rickelton was in the mood. A brilliant 113 off just 63 balls with five fours and a whopping 11 sixes. Battling it out right till the last over, having the finish line in sight. He put up a masterclass in clean hitting.&nbsp;MICT were 32/1 after five overs, and needed a major injection of momentum. Enter, Ryan. With two consecutive sixes off Eathan Bosch, he signaled his intentions. His fifty came up off 31 balls, the century off 57. Spin, seam, change ups, nothing was spared. 22 runs were needed off the final over, Ryan had the strike too. We believed. Alas. He holed out first ball, and our hopes sunk, but he filled our hearts with pride.&nbsp;“It really was unbelievable. He’s known for playing innings like that - taking a bit of time early on, reading the conditions, and then accelerating. The way he handled both spin and pace was outstanding. That was easily one of the best innings you’ll see,” said skipper Rashid Khan in the post-match chat.&nbsp;Reeza, Jason chip in with useful cameos&nbsp;After Rassie van der Dussen fell early, Reeza Hendricks joined Rickelton in steadying the chase. His 21-ball 28 set the chase in order, but it was Jason Smith’s 14-ball 41 where things really took off. With the asking rate well over 17-an-over, he not only brought it down to around the 14s, but put immense pressure on the DSG bowlers.&nbsp;A tough night with the ball, but Boult does Boult things&nbsp;The pitch was an absolute belter and with the season-beginning bounce to aid as well, stroke-making was a delight. Trent Boult and the new ball are a match made in heaven, and he produced a dream ball first up: angling in, nipping away and beating Devon Conway’s defence. He was also the pick of the bowlers, coming back to get rid of a rampant Conway, with George Linde chipping in with a couple of wickets as MI Cape Town pulled things back a touch in the middle overs after Durban were off to a flier.&nbsp;

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MICTvDSG report: No, no, nooo!! Rickelton magic falls short by the barest of margins

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Boxing Day, Newlands, the festive season. The party simply doesn’t get any bigger. Imagine this: the holidays, chilling on the grass bank against the backdrop of the table mountain, a month of breakneck cricket, and the chance for MI Cape Town to defend their crown! &nbsp;The SA20 has only grown in strength year on year. Packed stadiums, top class cricket, a party atmosphere. And MICT will kick things off in a clash against Durban’s Super Giants, who have a bit of a new look. We, meanwhile, have a nice familiar look to our squad. Despite the mega Auction, we’ve gone all out to buy back a majority of our winning squad from 2025. Skipper Rashid Khan has touched down on the back of some match-winning performances for MI Emirates, and along with his men, is all set to paint the Rainbow Nation in our Blue and Gold!&nbsp;What: MI Cape Town vs Durban’s Super Giants&nbsp;When: December 26, 2025 | 17:30 local time, 21:00 ISTWhere: Newlands, Cape Town&nbsp;What to expect: The cricketing season feels a bit unusual. This is when cricket is played in whites, but this festive week is in colours. Expect fresh, juicy pitches for the seamers, lots of bounce allowing batters to smack them big, and all in all, some killer cricket.&nbsp;

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Match 1 | MICTvDSG preview: Let the festivities begin! Let the games begin! 

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The skipper has touched down. Rashid Khan, after putting in some clutch performances for MI Emirates has flown in to lead MI Cape Town’s crown-defence. He interacted with the media ahead of the first game at Newlands, and the warning bugle was sounded. Excerpts..&nbsp;Preparations leading into the first game&nbsp;It has been great so far. Guys reached here earlier and had some good practice games. I had some good games in the ILT20. Everything looking in great shape as last year. Whatever we did last year went well and we will try to keep things the same. Nothing much will change, just need to focus on the effort we put on the ground.&nbsp;On the pressures of being the defending Champions&nbsp;To be honest, more pressure last year than this year. We finished bottom twice in a row and to come from there to win the trophy was a big thing for us. We played collectively as a team and took responsibility at certain points in the game. I think that is what is very important. Whether it is stopping a couple of runs, that good fielding gives good energy to the team. We just wanted to give our 100% in the ground, whether it is in batting, bowling or fielding and not look at the result. That will be the target for us this season. Each and every one of us knows their responsibility in the team and I think every one is professional and experienced to understand their role to do it for the team.&nbsp;On the squad for season 4&nbsp;Every player is experienced. They will adjust themselves with the conditions and the position of the team quite quickly. Everyone is quite professional. They have played so much cricket around the world. We’ve played alongside Nicholas Pooran a lot. A lot of players have played with each other. They know my role in the team. I don’t think it will be that difficult to adjust with the team. Everyone is very excited for the games to start. As a captain I will try my best to give the freedom and the environment for the new faces for him to feel relaxed. I will be there to support the brand of cricket he wants. It won’t be very demanding. It will be a lot of freedom to play the kind of cricket a youngster wants to play with all seniors there to support them.&nbsp;His predictions for the finalThat’s too far (laughs). It’s a long way to go. It’s going to be next year (laughs) in 2026. We are all here to play good cricket. I am not much into the results but into the efforts. No matter where we end up, if you put in the right efforts every time you get onto the ground, you will end up getting the results you want.&nbsp;On Nicholas Pooran coming in&nbsp;He’s going to bring a lot of energy to the game. We know how dangerous a cricketer he is. I have played a lot with him and know him as a good person. Definitely he’s going to play some exciting innings and the Newlands fans are going to love him. He’s the kind of person who comes and smashes sixes. A guy full of energy and entertainment. I’m sure he’s going to love his time here. The way fans supported us through the difficult times was very important. Pooran is going to have great support here. He’s going to smash it and play some good innings here.On Head Coach Robbie Peterson&nbsp;He is playing an important role. I am always trying to discuss with him. It’s not just about the skills, but the mindset and the experience. He has played a lot of Test cricket. He has played a lot of harder cricket compared to me. He played the World Cups, he represented South Africa against the best sides in the world. I always try my best to discuss things with him. Sometimes in games, your mind doesn’t work. He’s the most experienced spinner we have in the team as the Head Coach and I always try to learn from him. For every youngster, it is a great opportunity to have that one month to learn from him. Not just skill wise, but on how to react in different situations.&nbsp;Whether he has some new variations up his sleeve&nbsp;As a player, you always need to have something new. You cannot keep repeating yourself at practice without trying something new. It might take some time to get some variation in my bowling. Like making my action slower was pretty hard for me. Somehow I adjusted and it helps me bowl the slower one. It has really helped me take a lot of wickets. In the last three-four years, I was trying in the nets to perfect it. All the youngsters should be trying to do something you might need in the future. You should not be restricted for options. It’s up to you as a bowler on the kind of work to put. A batter now has so many options to hit, so many shots. It should be the same for a spinner, to have options and to know what to bowl in tough times.&nbsp;On the MI FamilyIt all started here in MI Cape Town. I had a great time wherever I went. The kind of respect I received, the love I got and the freedom as a player is more important than anything else. I feel I have been given so much respect and freedom. The environment around the team is very important. It affects your game and if the environment is good, you deliver your best on the ground. That’s why I have been in this setup wherever I go. I know everyone so well. MLC, MI Emirates, MI Cape Town, hopefully we continue this all around the world. I try my best for the team. I am lucky to be in this family and I hope till I play cricket, I retire in MI as well.

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“Have a lot of love, respect and freedom in the MI Family”: Rashid Khan 

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Boxing Day in South Africa is always special. Right in the middle of the festive season, cricket in all its tradition and glory! This year, it’ll come in all its colours and under lights.&nbsp;MI Cape Town, the Defending Champions, have a very similar look post the mega Auction. Continuity and the feeling of being at home has been a tradition in the #OneFamily across the globe, and this SA20 Mega Auction was no different.&nbsp;“I think that’s been a general value of MICT, to keep the core players because that allows consistency and it allows for a good balance within the team to be maintained. Familiarity is a key thing because you need to be able to bond with your team-mates. The synergy goes a long way. It’s proven to be quite a successful value for MI across the board. Super thrilled that the strategy came to life and now we just have to put the finishing touches,” said Kagiso Rabada in the pre-season captains’ presser, where he stood in for Rashid Khan, who’s on his way here after a super stint with MI Emirates. &nbsp;There’s everything to play for over the next one month. Let’s paint the Rainbow Nation in our Blue and Gold once again, shall we?

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Six teams, one trophy: Kaapstad, let’s bring it home, AGAIN! 

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The cape of Champions. The threads of passion. The iconic Blue and Gold. MI city and its stars … woven in MI Cape Town’s colours. The Christmas present has come early!&nbsp;With just over a week to go for season 4 of the SA20 kicking off on Boxing Day, the excitement is only set to go up a notch with this jersey being unveiled. On a beautiful Newlands evening, the rays of the setting sun against the Table mountain will get the Gold dazzling on our Samurai Cloak as the Blue shines bright!Kaapstad, see you at the Cricket!&nbsp;

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LAUNCHED: MI threads, MI passion, MI jersey

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As Cape Town steps into the festive Christmas season and builds excitement for&nbsp;SA20 2026 season, reigning champions MI Cape Town are taking the coveted silverware to the people with a vibrant Trophy Tour across Cape Town’s most iconic and high-footfall destinations including Cape&nbsp;Gate Shopping Centre, Canal Walk Shopping Centre and Kenilworth Centre starting 6th&nbsp;December 2025.&nbsp;Inspired by MI’s global #OneFamily spirit, the tour brings the championship silverware closer to the fans who fuelled the team’s remarkable 2025 title run.The Trophy Tour aims to spark excitement among the fans ahead of the new season and strengthen the emotional bond between the team and the community. Fans can expect an immersive experience featuring a secure trophy display, a selfie zone with live photo printing, interactive trivia sessions, and high-energy engagement running crowd games, giveaways, and a Cape Town-inspired playlist.With fan quizzes, exclusive prizes like signed merchandise, and appearances at major shopping destinations, the Trophy Tour promises to be a citywide celebration of&nbsp;festive spirit, passion, and championship glory, adding Christmas cheer to the build-up for the new season.MI Cape Town Trophy Tour Schedule:<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td style="border:1.0pt solid windowtext;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:134.3pt;">Day/ Date</td><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:solid;border-width:1.0pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:70.85pt;">Time</td><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:solid;border-width:1.0pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:4.0cm;">Venue</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:none;border-width:1.0pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:134.3pt;">Saturday, 6th Dec 2025</td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:70.85pt;" rowspan="3">2-4 PM</td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:4.0cm;">Cape Gate</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:none;border-width:1.0pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:134.3pt;">Saturday, 13th Dec 2025</td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:4.0cm;">Canal Walk</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:none;border-width:1.0pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:134.3pt;">Monday, 15th Dec 2025</td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:4.0cm;">Kenilworth</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

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Reigning champs MI Cape Town bring Christmas cheer with festive Trophy Tour

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Thomas Kaber, the South African all-rounder, returns to MI Cape Town as a replacement for Tabraiz Shamsi, who is unavailable for the season due to personal reasons.He's a hugely experienced Protean lad, having made his domestic debut for the Northerns way back in 2009. An aggressive middle-order bat, a left-arm wrist-spinner, he's the complete package!&nbsp;He's no stranger to the #OneFamily, having been part of the MI Cape Town squad for the last two seasons, including the season three title win. We're super excited to have you back, TK!&nbsp;

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Thomas Kaber signs with MI Cape Town for SA20 Season 4

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Few growth trajectories are this sharp. Fewer are as heartwarming. Tristan Luus is 20. He can already boast of two major Franchise cricket title wins in his CV. He can also boast of triggering a bidding war in the express round at the SA20 Auction.&nbsp;To think it was only a year ago when he was drafted into the South African under-19 World Cup squad as an injury replacement.The Blue and Gold weren’t letting go of him. What began as a Rookie Draft pick in season 3 turned into a full blown hard Auction fight to ensure Luus’ homecoming in season 4. How were his nerves when the paddles kept going up?“It’s actually a funny story,” he tells micapetown.co.za in an exclusive chat. “I was on the field when the Auction was going on. I was playing for South Africa A versus New Zealand A. It was the third day of the four day match. We were fielding at the time of the Auction, so everyone was quite nervous. We could get our phones only after the day’s play, and that is when I saw all the messages. So I kind of realized a few hours after everyone else.”“When I realized I was back with MI Cape Town, I was absolutely stoked. It is unbelievable to be back. It’s the franchise I want to play for. It’s the team I want to be involved with. I’m super grateful, super happy to be back. Last year was simply one of the best tours of my life. It was unbelievable.”Rashid Khan, Trent Boult, Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Hashim Amla, Robin Peterson, Mitchell McClenaghan. It’s an impressive list of men for Tristan to have rubbed shoulders with and picked brains of. Equally intimidating.&nbsp;“The whole month was unbelievable. My first impression, I’m not going to lie, I was very nervous getting into the camp. I was a young player coming in and then you see all these players you’ve watched and then suddenly you’re in a team with them. My nerves were through the roof,” he said.&nbsp;Meanwhile MI Cape Town were on a winning roll. It felt different in Newlands given the disappointments of the first two seasons. But the story of season 3 was that of domination. Domination turned into a winning juggernaut that just wouldn’t stop.&nbsp;“I backed the team from day one. We went on a winning streak in the middle after we lost one game at the start. It would take a really good team to beat us. We played good cricket in and out. We never stopped. We had the will to win this thing. I am just grateful to be part of a team that won this thing. I was also pretty nervous throughout the competition because it is a very big step in a lot of cricketers’ careers,” Tristan said.&nbsp;You can’t not fall in love with Luus’ bowling action. There’s a nice throwback feel to it. Nostalgic for an entire generation.&nbsp;“Dale Steyn is my cricketing hero. He is the guy I look up to. I’m not going to lie, I hadn’t noticed I bowl a lot like Dale Steyn until people showed me and told me my action and my run-up were quite similar. Only then it came into my mind and I thought, ‘Jeez, I’m actually bowling a little bit like him’. I think he’s one of the best bowlers&nbsp; to ever live in my opinion and I am taking the small things away into my game, like his aggression, and slowly make my action and game as smooth as he had. But there are a lot of similarities. I also watched a lot of videos of him. I’m just trying to do the small things what he did right.”&nbsp;They might be small things, but it’s leading Tristan Luus to making big strides. As he comes back home, we cannot wait for the strides to turn into a soar!

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Interview | “Absolutely stoked to be back, MICT is the franchise I want to play for”: Tristan Luus on his homecoming

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The old, the new, the tried and proven, the young and exciting.&nbsp;MI Cape Town’s squad of 19 at the end of a marathon mega Auction for the SA20 season 4 is here and we have the perfect mix for you. Let’s dive right in and say hello to the men who are all set to give it their all for the Mother City and defend our crown.&nbsp;<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>1.</td><td>Rassie van der Dussen</td><td>R5.2 million</td></tr><tr><td>2.</td><td>Reeza Hendricks</td><td>R500,000</td></tr><tr><td>3.&nbsp;</td><td>Dwaine Pretorius&nbsp;</td><td>R650,000</td></tr><tr><td>4.&nbsp;</td><td>Tristan Luus</td><td>R650,000</td></tr><tr><td>5.&nbsp;</td><td>Jason Smith</td><td>R500,000</td></tr><tr><td>6.&nbsp;</td><td>Tom Moores</td><td>R200,000</td></tr><tr><td>7.</td><td>Dane Piedt&nbsp;</td><td>R200,000</td></tr><tr><td>8.</td><td>Tian van Vuuren</td><td>R1 million</td></tr><tr><td>9.</td><td>Dan Lategan</td><td>R400,000</td></tr><tr><td>10.</td><td>Tabraiz Shamsi</td><td>R500,000</td></tr><tr><td>11.</td><td>Karim Janat</td><td>R1 million</td></tr><tr><td>12.</td><td>Jacques Snyman</td><td>R200,000</td></tr><tr><td>13.</td><td>Trent Boult</td><td>Retained</td></tr><tr><td>14.</td><td>Rashid Khan</td><td>Retained</td></tr><tr><td>15.</td><td>Ryan Rickleton</td><td>Retained</td></tr><tr><td>16.</td><td>George Linde</td><td>Retained</td></tr><tr><td>17.</td><td>Corbin Bosch</td><td>Retained</td></tr><tr><td>18.</td><td>Kagiso Rabada</td><td>Wild Card</td></tr><tr><td>19.</td><td>Nicholas Pooran</td><td>Pre-signing</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>&nbsp;

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Welkom to MI Cape Town, #SquadOfSeason4

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Of all the talking points in the mega Auction ahead of the fourth season of SA20 where most teams had a bit of a revamp, the most prominent from an MI Cape Town perspective was the return of the three Rs who played a major role in the team’s title march last season – Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks - at the top of the order.&nbsp;MICT Head Coach, Robin Peterson, was equally excited. “Very happy. A lot of things we planned for, we managed to pull off today. We didn’t get one or two players from last year that we wanted, but that’s okay. We are pretty happy with the team we have going into the fourth season. Exciting times,” he said in a post-auction chat with the broadcaster.&nbsp;“Rassie and Ricks (Rickelton) at the top of the order set the tone. They have been formidable for the last two years. We feel they are just getting better and better as a partnership, so we just wanted to keep that continuity. It’s so important in South Africa to play the new ball, we felt that was a very important piece in what we wanted to do today.”With a mix of old faces coming back and some new faces waiting to explode in the Blue and Gold, we should be for another cracking season of the SA20 where we go all out to defend our crown!

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“Very happy, pulled off a lot of what we had planned for”: Head Coach, Robin Peterson

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And that would be that! MI Cape Town's #BatchOfSeason4 is here, ready to defend our title and paint the Rainbow Nation in our Blue and Gold! We had retained our core from last year, brought back a number of familiar faces and have spruced it up with some new ones. Oh, could we be more excited?! Bring on December already, please!&nbsp;<hr>Karim Janat, the wily Afghan all-rounder with the experience of playing around the world, is now set to conquer Cape Town. He comes at his base price of 1million Rand. Jacques Snyman, the Pretoria all-rounder will have his first taste of the SA20 and the #OneFamily, getting snapped up in the second express round for 200K Rand.&nbsp;7:45pm local time: The mystery man with some magic in his celebrations. The Artist. The Entertainer. The Bamboozler. Tabraiz Shamsi, the crafty left-arm wrist-spinner is how set to give it a rip at Newlands and fox batters left, right and center. 500K Rand.&nbsp;7:15pm local time: Tiaan van Vuuren causes the first bidding war in the Express set, so much so that his price jumps from 200,000 Rand to a whopping 1 million Rand. This 24-year-old all-rounder is all set to laugh his way to the bank with an MI Cape Town Blue and Gold around his chest. Yep, we've snapped him after a tough fight with JSK. And the immediate next pick, Dan Lategan - the Western Cape born, Worcestershire bred lad - is also ours, at 400K Rand, a war we win against the Paarl Royals.&nbsp;Here's a recap of how our #BatchOfSeason4 looks like:&nbsp;Retained: Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Ryan Rickleton, George Linde, Corbin Bosch Wild Card: Kagiso Rabada Pre-signing: Nicholas Pooran At the auction: Rassie van der Dussen (R5.2 million), Reeza Hendricks (R500,000), Dwaine Pretorius (R650,000), Tristan Luus (R650,000), Jason Smith (R500,000), Tom Moores (R200,000), Dane Piedt (R200,000)<hr>6:30pm local time: It's Accelerated Auction time! Brace up for some quick picks and last minute shopping. We still have slots for five players (one of whom needs to be an under-23 player) with 3.6M Rand left in the bank. All franchises have been asked to give a list of up to ten players who they'd like to see re-appear in the Auction.&nbsp;6:25pm local time: Well, well, well. From Rassie to Reeza to Tristan to Dane Piedt. The veteran, the man with the golden arm, with the Midas touch, will stay put for 200,000 Rand. We aren't letting him go anywhere! The #OneFamily is growing!Things are moving rather quickly here. The Moores are a popular cricketing family in England, and we have one of them joining the MICT ranks. Tom Moores, a ‘keeper-batter from Nottingham and also son of former England croach Peter Moores, comes over at 200K Rand. He’s going to love working in tandem with fellow southpaw-keeper, Ryan Rickelton.&nbsp;<hr>Slots remaining: 7 | Purse remaining: 4M Rand6:00pm local time: Born in Cape Town, will play for Cape Town! Jason Smith, fresh from his recent promotion to the Proteas senior squad, is all set to play for the Mother City, his city, our city. A homecoming, literally! He joins for his base price of 500K Rand.&nbsp;5:40pm local time: From the Rookie Draft in season 3 to the Auction in season 4 - Tristan Luus, the young promising quick, stays in MI Cape Town for 650K Rand. Oh we're loving' it. Newlands, excited already!!A gun batter, a gun bowler, a gun fielder, a gun guy! Dwaine Pretorius, the South African pro, is all set to come to Cape Town at 650K Rand. He's all set to add some muscle to our middle-order. Fun fact: He holds the record for the best bowling figures by a South African in international T20s - 5/17.&nbsp;4:30pm local time: Oh, some further 2025 deja vu! Reeza Hendricks, another familiar face from our championship winning season, is back. The three Rs are intact: Rassie, Ryan, Reeza. 500k Rand, his base price, he comes home uncontested.&nbsp;<hr>RASSIE IS BACK!!!! The Rassie-Ryan combo at the top of the order that kept notching up big stands is all set to do the same in season 4. Rassie van der Dussen, welcome back to the Blue and Gold. He did attract a fair bidding war, but we weren't letting him go. He's ours at 5.2 million Rand.&nbsp;2:30pm local time: Some breakneck action out there in the middle. Big names have come, big money has been splurged. MI Cape Town have been rather watchful. It's coming, it's coming..2pm local time: Threeee, twoooo, oneee, WE ARE LIVE. Tell us your dream list, Kaapstad!&nbsp;<hr>And for everything MICT, <a href="https://micapetown.co.za/news/rules-slots-reserve-price-all-your-faqs-for-the-sa20-season-4-auction-answered">here’s your cheat sheet</a> with all your FAQs answered:&nbsp;So here’s the run-order for the day:<ul><li>The Auction begins at 2pm local time &nbsp;</li><li>A total of 546 players have registered themselves for the 84 slots available across teams &nbsp;</li><li>There are three Marquee sets comprising of seven players each, followed by two sets of batters, fast bowlers, spin bowlers, wicket-keepers and all-rounders &nbsp;</li><li>Once done, we would move into an express auction round where the players unsold in the first round could re-enter potentially as well &nbsp;</li><li>The players have selected reserve (base) prices for themselves as follows: 200000 Rand, 500000 Rand, 1000000 Rand and 1500000 Rand.&nbsp;</li></ul><hr>1:30pm local time: IT’S AUCTION DAY.&nbsp;Selling once, selling twice, AND SOLD. We have a crown to defend, the crown of champions, and it all starts here. Tonight. With 11.5million Rand in our kitty and 12 players to purchase, we are in for a shopping spree. We’ve retained our core from the winning 2024 squad, and we could potentially be getting a few of them back from the auction. Oh, we are in for a rollercoaster of an evening. And this is your space for all the buys, the misses, the oh-so-there, steals and all that happens around the gavel in Jo’burg from an MI Cape Town lens, with some fun hopefully along the way. Stay tuned, live action isn’t far away .. &nbsp;

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MICT @ SA20 Season 4 Auction: Rassie, Reeza BACK in the Blue and Gold - As it happened

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Can I smell an Auction?Indeed, and that’s precisely why we’re here. Season 4 of the SA20 is here and we are set for a bit of a rejig. This is a mega auction, and as the defending champions, we are super excited about building our team of superstars that will help us bring back our crown to the Mother City.&nbsp;Okay, I’m excited already! When and where is it happening?September 9, 2025 in Johannesburg, starting at 13:30 SAST. Richard Madley, the GOAT auctioneer would be conducting proceedings with his gavel.&nbsp;Who have MI Cape Town retained and how many slots remain?A total of seven players have been retained/pre-signed. Ryan Rickelton (retained), George Linde (retained), Corbin Bosch (retained), Rashid Khan (retained), Trent Boult (retained), Nicholas Pooran (pre-signed), Kagiso Rabada (wildcard).&nbsp;This leaves us with a maximum of 12 slots remaining to be filled, with a maximum of four overseas players and two under-23 players.So what do we need and how much money do we have in the purse?MI Cape Town have retained a large chunk of the core players from the winning squad of season 3. With 11.5million Rand still left in the purse, we need to fill up a large chunk of our batting order.What’s the under-23 rule?Each team would need to have at least two under-23 players within their ranks. We won’t be having the Rookie Draft this year.&nbsp;Got it! What’s going to be the day’s run-order?A total of 550 players have registered for the Auction. There are three Marquee sets comprising of seven players each, followed by two sets of batters, fast bowlers, spin bowlers, wicket-keepers and all-rounders. Once done, we would move into an express auction round where the players unsold in the first round could re-enter potentially as well. The players have selected reserve (base) prices for themselves as follows: 200000 Rand, 500000 Rand, 1000000 Rand and 1500000 Rand.&nbsp;

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Rules, slots, reserve price…All your FAQs for the SA20 Season 4 Auction answered

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Here’s our chance to defend our title at home! The iconic Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, the home of MI Cape Town, is all set to the host the Final of the fourth season of the SA20 on January 25, 2026.&nbsp;Durban would play host to the first Qualifier, with the two Highveld grounds playing host to the other two playoff games – Centurion with the Eliminator and Jo’burg with the second Qualifier. Mark your calendars:&nbsp;Qualifier 1 (Durban) – January 21, 2026 | 17:30 local timeEliminator (Centurion) – January 22, 2026 | 17:30 local timeQualifier 2 (Johannesburg) – January 23, 2026 | 17:30 local timeFinal (Cape Town) – January 25 2026 | 15:30 local time&nbsp;Oh, we simply cannot wait to get back on the field. The season comes early this year, with things kicking off on Boxing Day (December 26, 2025). What better than getting the chance to defend our crown with our loyal Fam right behind us!&nbsp;

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Woohoo! Newlands set to host the SA20 Season 4 Final

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Fresh off a historic maiden SA20 championship title in 2025,&nbsp;MI Cape Town has announced its list of retained players keeping a strong core of local and international talent as they gear up to defend their crown in the upcoming 2026 season.A total of six players — four domestic and two international — have been retained, all of whom played a pivotal role in the team’s success in 2025, not only in SA20 but also across the broader Mumbai Indians global system.Among the South African contingent, Ryan Rickelton and George Linde continue their journey with MI Cape Town into a fourth successive season, while Corbin Bosch, who joined the squad last season, also returns. Kagiso Rabada has been signed as the franchise’s wildcard player, adding further firepower to the local lineup.Leading the international roster is Rashid Khan, captain of MI Cape Town’s title-winning squad in SA20 2025, who will be back alongside Trent Boult. The duo played an instrumental role in securing the team’s maiden championship. Joining them will be pre-signed Nicholas Pooran, who is set to make his debut for MI Cape Town in 2026.This retained core reflects the franchise’s belief in continuity, performance, and its mission to nurture a winning culture both on and off the field.MI Cape Town would like to thank the players for their commitment and dedication to the journey and the title winning run last year and wish them the best.

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ANNOUNCED for SA20 season 4: MICT's retentions, wild card, pre-signing

Yayyyyy!!! The dates, your dates for MI Cape Town’s fixtures in the fourth edition of the SA20 are here. Quick, grab you pen and paper, think of the excuses you’ll be pulling off to be at the grounds in your Blue and Gold, and save the dates.&nbsp;The season will be off to a bumper opening on Boxing Day – 26th December 2025 – with defending champions MI Cape Town hosting Durban’s Super Giants at our home, Newlands. We are set to face DSG, the Paarl Royals, Joburg Super Kings and the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in back-to-back home and away fixtures, making it for some serious viewing.&nbsp;The Final of the competition will take place on 25 January 2026, with Qualifier 1 scheduled for 21 January, the Eliminator on 22 January and Qualifier 2 on 23 January. Venues for the Final and the Playoffs will be confirmed on a later date.Okay, here’s our full schedule:&nbsp;26 December 2025 | 17:30 SAST: MI Cape Town vs Durban’s Super Giants&nbsp;28 December 2025 | 15:30 SAST: Durban’s Super Giants vs MI Cape Town&nbsp;31 December 2025 | 17:30 SAST: MI Cape Town vs Pretoria Capitals2 January 2026 | 17:30 SAST: Paarl Royals vs MI Cape Town&nbsp;4 January 2026 | 15:30 SAST: MI Cape Town vs Paarl Royals6 January 2026 | 17:30 SAST: MI Cape Town vs Joburg Super Kings&nbsp;10 January 2026 | 17:30 SAST: Joburg Super Kings vs MI Cape Town12 January 2026 | 17:30 SAST: Pretoria Capitals vs MI Cape Town16 January 2026 | 17:30 SAST: MI Cape Town vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape&nbsp;18 January 2026 | 15:30 SAST: Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs MI Cape Town&nbsp;

The SCHEDULE for SA20 season 4 is here!! Boxing Day, here we come

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Bring out your calculators, start jotting down the permutations and combinations, tell us your wishlist. WE SIMPLY CANNOT KEEP CALM!!&nbsp;The date: 9th September 2025. The event: The Betway SA20 Season 4 Auction. The venue: Johannesburg.&nbsp;Prior to the auction, the franchises are permitted no more than 6 retentions or pre-signed players comprising of a maximum of 3 overseas players and 3 South African players. This means a minimum of 72 players would be up for grabs.&nbsp;The team composition, i.e. the split between the local and overseas players is set to remain the same, with every squad allowed a maximum of &nbsp;seven overseas players and a minimum of 11 South African players. The Wildcard rule remains the same as well, with the teams allowed to sign one Wildcard player to each squad. The Wildcard player can be a South African or overseas player, and their League fee falls outside of the salary cap.Each of the six franchises would have R41-million in their purse this season to make up their squads. In a new move, the Right To Match (RTM) cards are set to be introduced this season. This allows a Franchise the opportunity to match a winning auction bid on a player who played for that team in Season 3 and retain his services for Season 4. Each team will have a limited number of RTM cards to use, depending on the number of South African pre-auction player retentions they use.In another significant change from last year, there will no longer be a Rookie Draft, instead, teams must sign a minimum of two Under-23 players in their final 19 player squads.Richard Madley (and his gavel, of course), who’ve become synonymous with the SA20 Auctions would once again be out there conducting the proceedings.&nbsp;So, what are you waiting for? Spam our channels, tell us your dream team at MI Cape Town. We are all set to defend our crown!&nbsp;

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9th Sep 2025: Save the date for SA20 Season 4 Auction

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MI has started 2025 on a high! History scripted, MI Cape Town crowned SA20 2025 Champions!&nbsp;Lifting their first trophy in the league, the MI Cape Town showcased absolute dominance from start to the finish through the season. With relentless consistency, they won match after match, never taking the foot off the accelerator, capping off a historic campaign in style.With this triumph, Mumbai. New York. Emirates. Cape Town. Every team in the MI Family now has a Winner’s trophy in its cabinet.&nbsp;Mrs Nita M. Ambani said: “What a proud and historic moment for the MI family! From Mumbai to New York, the UAE to Cape Town - MI teams have won league titles &amp; the hearts of fans across the globe. This title is a testament to our commitment to excellence, our belief in talent, and the spirit of Mumbai Indians. We are a truly global family, united by our passion for the game. A heartfelt thank you to all our fans for their unwavering support - this victory is as much yours as it is ours. Congratulations to MI Cape Town for making 2025 a year to remember!”Mr. Akash M. Ambani, Team Owner, said, “MI Cape Town’s journey this season has been nothing short of exceptional, and I couldn’t be prouder of the team. This victory is a testament to the MI philosophy—backing talent, believing in the process, and playing with heart. This win is for our fans, who have stood by us through every high and low. Newlands Cape Town, this is your moment—enjoy it!"With this historic win, Mumbai Indians continue to set new benchmarks in global franchise cricket. Over the past 17 years, the dedication of the MI family—comprising Mumbai Indians (IPL &amp; WPL), MI Cape Town, MI Emirates, and MI New York—has resulted in an incredible 11 T20 league titles worldwide. This includes five IPL championships, two Champions League victories, and the inaugural WPL and Major League Cricket titles in 2023, along with the ILT20 title in 2024.&nbsp;MI’s journey has been one of passion, perseverance, and excellence, bringing together talent from across the world and winning not just trophies, but the hearts of millions of fans. With this SA20 victory, 2025 has started on the perfect note for the MI family!

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"This victory is a testament
to the MI philosophy": Mr. Akash M. Ambani

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India. USA. UAE. South Africa. The quartet is complete. The MI #OneFamily has conquered them all.&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh, didn’t we need this. It’s been three seasons in the making. And it feels just incredible to hear this. Let’s say it loud enough for everyone to hear: MI Cape Town, the 2025 SA20 Champions!!“Very happy. Last year and the year before we were at the bottom of the table. Topping the table this year and winning the final feels great. Winning six games with a bonus point was unbelievable. Shows how everyone contributed to the win. Credit goes to each and every one. The support and the way the Head Coach, Robbie (Peterson), kept the dressing room was incredible,” said Rashid Khan, the victorious skipper at the post-match press conference shortly after lifting the title.&nbsp;Trent Boult wrote himself into history books with this feat as well of winning a title with all four teams, Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020, MI New York in MLC 2023, MI Emirates in ILT20 2024 and now with MI Cape Town in SA20 2025. A powerplay wicket was almost a guarantee with him around.&nbsp;“Obviously very excited to get an opportunity to come to this part of the world. It’s a proud sporting nation and an exciting place to play cricket. Great way to top off the season. The boys have fought hard and deserve it,” Boult said.&nbsp;Head Coach, Robin Peterson, has been with the team for the last three years, and he knows the disappointment that came over the last two years. In true Robbie fashion, he scripted a turnaround. It really was one.&nbsp;“Every time you are involved with MI, you are expected to win,” he said. “In the first two years, we tried our best but things didn’t work out. Bringing Rash (Rashid) back, bringing (Trent) Boulty here, made a huge difference. The experience and a couple of fresh faces is just amazing how it changed the environment. MI is a proud franchise,” he said.&nbsp;The party has only begun. Cape Town, you have another glittering piece of silverware to an already rich sporting history. Newlands, with sellout after sellout, you’ve been absolutely wonderful. Let’s rejoice. This is MI city, this is MI team, We are MI Cape Town.&nbsp;

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MI City, MI Team, MI Champion Cape Town

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Bear hugs, pumped up celebrations, some happy tears, some big smiles. When the final wicket in the SEC innings fell, the outfield at the Wanderers was where the MICT party first began. Through some interviews and chats with the host broadcaster, let’s be a part of soaking in the win..&nbsp;Rashid Khan | Winning Captain: Tonight was brilliant. We had couple of tough years. The highest points across three seasons to start off. Feel happy for this team. Brilliant effort from everyone. Throughout this season, we didn't play a selfish innings. Every one thought what the team needs. Even today, every one played their natural game. We had KG, Bosch, Boult and then George. So, happy to be part of this bowling line up. Amazing to be back. Missed last year due to back injury. I got a phone call ahead of the season that do you want to lead. I said yes. This is the only franchise which has won every tournament. We have won the IPL, MLC, the ILT20 and now the SA20.Trent Boult is the Player of the Match: First of all the boys put up a great performance. We scratched to 180 and very satisfying to get the job done. Beautiful place to play. The tournament is well followed. It was nice to get on a wicket that had help for the bowlers. Players stood up at the right points this season.Kagiso Rabada: I think I was extra focussed as it was a final. They had made three finals in a row. On their day, they can beat anyone. I felt 180 was above par. Everyone bowled well. Rashid and Linde did well in the middle overs. I love playing in SA. It is my favorite place to play. The fans are amazing. The performances have been thrilling.Trent Boult: Very special. To get the opportunity to win all four (titles with MI franchise) was great. Haven't played much cricket in South Africa. Guys wanted to do it for each other. Cricket here has been great fun.Dewald Brevis: I was excited for tonight. I had lot of things in my head. I am grateful it came off. We needed runs on the board. We are so stoked. The last season I won't forget. It was tough. I wanted to focus on few things and give it my best.Corbin Bosch: Over the moon. Unbelieve cricket this season. We were exceptional this entire campaign. (His role) Obviously to bowl nice and quickly and death bowling as well. I'm proud to be part of such a great franchise and help them put another one on the board.Rassie van der Dussen: Batting first we knew there would be something in the wicket. But we knew if we could get off to a good start we would do well. We have been getting starts and luckily we did it one more time. Last two years we have been bouncing off each other (On his partnership with Rickleton). We were confident&nbsp;coming into this game. If you are three down in the powerplay you could lose the game so we wanted to take care of that. What a place to play the final.Ryan Rickleton: Incredible&nbsp;tournament, to come last first two years and then win now is amazing. It (Wanderers) was an incredible place to play. Effort behind the scene&nbsp;is amazing, everyone stepped up. (We are going to celebrate) until this time tomorrow (smiles).

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"To come last in the first two years and then win now feels incredible"

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Clinical, dominant, right-on-the-money, consistent, WINNERS. The redemption arc is complete. MI Cape Town are the 2025 SA20 Champions! Keeping in line with how effective the team and how dominating the team has been right through the league stage, getting on a roll and winning match after match, this final was pretty much a reflection of the same. We refused to take the foot off the accelerator and refused to slow down until we landed the silverware. Mumbai. New York. Emirates. Cape Town. Each of the teams in the MI Family now has a Winner’s trophy in its cabinet!&nbsp;We’ve risen above them all. 2025 has gotten off to a brilliant start!&nbsp;The RRs lay the platformThis seriously has been some God-level consistency. Rassie van der Dussen (23) and Ryan Rickelton (33) once again got the team off to a brilliant start, getting to 50 inside the fifth over. Match after match, it’s been their opening stand that has almost been a guarantee for MI Cape Town, allowing the rest of the batters to ease up and stay pressure free.&nbsp;The Brevis explosion&nbsp;Connor Esterhuizen, with his 26-ball 39, and George Linde, with his 14-ball 20, counter-attacked and just didn’t let the momentum dip after three wickets fell in quick succession. But the big boost came via young Dewald Brevis, who continued his top form in the final. Four sixes, two fours, and 18 balls later for his 38, he made sure MI Cape Town had successfully set themselves a 180+ total on the board.&nbsp;Another game sealed in the powerplay, ft. TB and KGKagiso Rabada got David Bedingham in his first over, Trent Boult got Jordan Hermann in his second, and together, they broke the back of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape chase even before it had begun. Just when Tony de Zorzi and Tom Abell got a small partnership going, the spinners in Rashid Khan and George Linde made sure there was no twist in the tale. The wickets kept tumbling, the asking rate kept going up, we kept getting nearer.&nbsp;And finally, off 18.4, when Rabada got Richard Gleeson to chip one to cover, the roof went off. The Wanderers was painted in Blue and Gold. The players and the fans know what an epic feat this is and what it means to everybody after the two tough seasons.&nbsp;Kaapstad, where’s the party tonight?!

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WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! SAY IT AGAIN, MI CAPE TOWN – SA20 2025 CHAMPIONS!!

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It simply doesn’t get any bigger. A team that’s on a roll, topping the league table, winning the first Qualifier in style, a team in top form versus a side that’s coming in as two-time champions, having fought their way up in the second half of the league to make it into the final. The iconic Bullring, two iconic teams, one iconic rivalry, and at the end of it all, one winner who takes it all.&nbsp;“We are the team that was at the bottom for two years and now we are at the top. We have been playing some amazing cricket for the past month. It’s not about who the opposition is. They are playing good cricket as well. Losing three in a row first up and then coming into the final is a big achievement as well. They have the experience of playing in the final in the last two years. We are just focusing on playing good cricket and focusing on what we did well in the last one month to get here. That would be the challenge for us than thinking, ‘oh, they’ve been unbeaten in the playoffs’. I don’t think we should have that in mind. It’s about the mindset, effort and approach, which would be key,” said our skipper Rashid Khan at the press conference on the eve of the Final.&nbsp;These are two sides who’ve produced some epic contests so far. In the first two seasons, there were some real nailbiters, and unfortunately, we came out on the wrong side of those results. But this season has been different. We’ve won both games against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, each one very comfortably. These are two teams with a mega fan base, and there’s everything in store to make your Saturday night a blockbuster!&nbsp;&nbsp;What: THE FINAL, MI Cape Town vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape&nbsp;When: February 8, 2025 | 17:30 local time, 21:00 ISTWhere: The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg&nbsp;What to expect: Keep your popcorn handy. And then your celebratory dance for the end of the evening. There never is a shortage of sixes on this ground. It’s a place that’s hosted some legendary finals in the past, and there’s no reason why we aren’t in for another!&nbsp;

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THE FINAL | MICTvSEC preview: Orange vs Blue is RED HOT

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It’s bee some turnaround for MI Cape Town. After finishing at the bottom of the table for two seasons to now top the league table and then become the first side to qualify for the SA20 2025 Final. Rashid Khan, the captain, takes a lot&nbsp; of pride in the team’s success. He was at the captain’s press conference ahead of the Final against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, and spoke about a range of topics. Excerpts..&nbsp;Thoughts on the Final&nbsp;It’s different for us as a team, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time and topping the table. For us, it is just about focusing on what we can do on the day. We are the team that was at the bottom for two years and now we are at the top. We have been playing some amazing cricket for the past month. It’s not about who the opposition is. They are playing good cricket as well. Losing three in a row first up and then coming into the final is a big achievement as well. They have the experience of playing in the final in the last two years. We are just focusing on playing good cricket and focusing on what we did well in the last one month to get here. That would be the challenge for us than thinking, ‘oh, they’ve been unbeaten in the playoffs’. I don’t think we should have that in mind. It’s about the mindset, effort and approach, which would be key.&nbsp;On the leadership group at MI Cape Town&nbsp;It's very good to have players who have that experience. In South Africa, you see different conditions everywhere. To have those players around who give you the best information about the wickets and conditions is great. We have players who are mostly from here (Jo’burg) like Ryan Rickelton and KG (Rabada). They know the conditions and know how to play. It gives us a plus as a team. It really helps to get the information you need. We have 60-70 percent of the players who are from this part. But still it’s a T20, you have to play good cricket. We have played some great cricket throughout the competition. We adjusted ourselves to conditions and have responded to pressure situations well. That for me is the outstanding point. Whenever we were under pressure in the group games with bat, ball and on the field, we responded well. That will be the key for tomorrow as well.&nbsp;On wanting to be captain again after the first season&nbsp;When I got a call from MI Cape Town and they asked me if I wanted to lead the team, I was very excited and said I wanted to. When I left we were at the bottom of the table in the first season and I didn’t come in the second season because of my back problem. It was a big challenge for me and I said ‘yes, I am fully ready’. It was the first time leading a franchise side, which was a different experience for me as well. Leading in the World Cup gave me the confidence and energy I needed as a captain. That really helped me. That’s the challenge I wanted this year as well. I wanted to lead the team. It is just about keeping things simple and thinking about what we could do in the future. As a team that is what was more important for us. I didn’t change much after coming. I just said, ‘look, forget about the result. It is just about effort’. That’s what we are focusing on. That’s all I want from the team. I don’t want results. I want efforts. When you have efforts, more often than not, you get the results.Whether having a couple of days off is an advantage&nbsp;I think it gives you the advantage where your body recovers for the next game. To be honest, we haven’t done much. I just watch Netflix a lot (laughs). The schedule was very busy throughout the tournament. We just took a few days off. Some guys stayed at home. We stayed in the hotel, went out for shopping. We refreshed our bodies and made sure we were ready for the game.&nbsp;On dealing with different conditions in South Africa&nbsp;It’s quite important that we have a leadership group around a team. As an overseas captain, it is always hard. Having that leadership group to discuss things makes your job easier. We discuss things about the opposition and it makes my job easier. Sometimes it is hard for me to communicate with the boys, and they can do that in different conditions. Every ground in South Africa is different. You are making sure you are having the most of the knowledge about the pitches. I felt it was something I was missing in the first year. This year we have that a lot and it really helps you. It is a huge advantage having those senior players around. You can be more relaxed on the field.&nbsp;On the squad for this season&nbsp;You get the confidence as a captain to do the best for the team. I knew we had the best team. Like the other day, even when we had 7-8 guys resting, the other guys came on and won with a bonus point. Shows how good the team is. I was excited about the challenges.&nbsp;On the plans for Sunrisers Easter CapeIf I tell you, you will tell them (laughs). Nothing different. You know the strong and weak points. You know yourself too. Doesn’t matter who the opposition is, as long as you believe in your skills, you can beat them. They have been the most consistent side in the playoffs as well but for us, it is just to have the positive mindset and accept the challenges.&nbsp;On working well with Robbie PetersonWil Robbie, I had a good time in the first year as well. In the MLC, I had an amazing time with him as the coach. As soon as I head he would be leading as the Coach at MI Cape Town as well, I was happy. He is someone who always gives you positive energy as a captain. Having a good relationship with the coach is important. We know what we are doing. So far I have really enjoyed. I have learnt a lot from him. He keeps the environment very positive. That’s something that really helps.On missing Ben Stokes this seasonBen Stokes, we know is one of the best all-rounders. His availability is very important for each team. We still have that kind of a team where we have a backup for each player. We have the skills where if one guy doesn’t do well, there are other guys who take the responsibility forward. It shows how strong the bench and the team is. It was a huge blow for us, but we have the combination where we could recover.&nbsp;On becoming the world’s leading wicket-taker in T20s&nbsp;It’s a proud moment for me to be the leading wicket taker. It’s been eight or nine years since I’ve been playing cricket and to be the leading wicket taker is something which feels like a dream. Big milestone for me. I will try and keep it with me. We love this game and which is why we wanted to play. As a kid, you only have one thing in mind, which is to enjoy. I play this game for enjoyment. The more you enjoy, the better you perform. You always keep that in mind, we make sure we have fun out there and make sure we make our family and friends proud. We can only give our 100%.&nbsp;What he watches on Netflix and in his downtime&nbsp;I’m mostly watching Indian movies on Netflix. I am watching Prison Break, it gives you an idea of how to get out of difficult situations (laughs). Going from one city to another is difficult. That’s where your experience comes in on how to adjust to conditions. That’s the beauty of the life you face. To react to that and do well in different conditions is what I enjoy. If there is support for me in the wicket as a spinner, could I take five or seven wickets. If there is no support in the wicket but I take one or two wickets at a good economy is something I enjoy more. I look to do well in tough situations. That’s the beauty of this game. You have to have a mindset that nothing would be easy. As soon as you start finding excuses for yourself, that’s when you start going down.&nbsp;Thoughts on the SA20 leagueI really enjoyed here. In the first year, I had the best time. It’s the biggest league after the IPL. In the first year, the biggest challenge I faced was to adjust to different conditions. I understood what should be the adjustment and how I should be bowling this year. I feel I have done better this time than what I did in the first year. As a captain, earlier, I was putting too much on myself. If we were losing the game, I was only blaming myself. This year, I kept it simple. It was about trying to give 200 percent to the team. So far, whatever I have done, how I have bowled four overs in different cities, I am happy with my bowling. As a captain having those discussions before the game would help make you a better captain, and makes you mentally strong as well.&nbsp;

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