Last Updated on 4 months ago by Charbel Coorey

The fourth edition of the SA20 league will kick off on 26th December 2025. Defending champions MI Cape Town (MICT) will be against the Durban Super Giants (DSG) in the first game. The match will be played at Newlands, Cape Town, at 9:00 PM IST.

MI Cape Town won the 2024/25 title quite convincingly. They won 7 of their 10 league games with one no result and then won the first qualifier and the final. Rassie van der Dussen (393 runs), Ryan Rickelton (336 runs), and Dewald Brevis (291 runs) were the best batters for them. 

Brevis is no longer in MI’s squad, but they have Nicholas Pooran, who’s amongst the best T20 batters in the world. However, it’s touch and go as to whether he plays in this game as he was playing in the UAE ILT20 league on December 23.

In the bowling department, Kagiso Rabada (12 wickets), Rashid Khan (12 wickets), George Linde (11 wickets), and Corbin Bosch (11 wickets) were the pick of the bowlers for the franchise. 

Durban Super Giants, meanwhile, finished at the bottom of the table with only two wins in 10 matches. They failed to get going last season and will be eager for a strong comeback in this one. They have the likes of Heinrich Klaasen, Jos Buttler, and Kane Williamson with the bat, and they also signed Aiden Markram and Devon Conway from the auction. 

Sunil Narine, Gerald Coetzee, Kwena Maphaka, Simon Harmer, and Noor Ahmad form a strong bowling attack. Veteran David Wiese is also there. Overall, their squad looks good with good depth in both batting and bowling.

SA20 2025-26 1st Match: MICT vs DSG Probable Playing XIs

MI Cape Town: 1. Reeza Hendricks, 2. Ryan Rickelton, 3. Rassie van der Dussen, 4. Nicholas Pooran/Tom Moores (wk), 5. George Linde, 6. Corbin Bosch, 7. Dwaine Pretorius, 8. Tiaan Van Buuren/Tristan Luus, 9. Rashid Khan (c), 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Trent Boult

Durban Super Giants: 1. Devon Conway, 2. Aiden Markram (c), 3. Jos Buttler (wk), 4. Kane Williamson, 5. Heinrich Klaasen, 6. David Wiese, 7.Eathan Bosch, 8. Gerald Coetzee, 9. Simon Harmer, 10. Noor Ahmad, 11. Kwena Maphaka

Newlands Cape Town Stadium Pitch Report and Weather

A good batting track will await both sides for this game. The ball will come onto the bat nicely, allowing the batters to play their shots. The pacers will get some assistance with the new ball for the first few overs, and the spinners also did well at this venue in the last five years. (economy 7.60). Expect the teams to prefer chasing.

It will be a clear day in Cape Town with no chance of rain. The temperature will hover around 19-21 degrees Celsius during the game.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for MICT vs DSG 2025/26: Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:  

• Jos Buttler is one of the best in the business, especially in the shortest format. He’s started batting at 3 in recent times and has been very effective. 
• Buttler will be a key batter for DSG. He has scored 1,025 runs in 28 innings at an average of 46.60 and strike rate of 153.70 (10 fifties) in T20s this year.
• Heinrich Klaasen didn’t have a great outing in the last season, but he’s still amongst the most explosive batters in T20 cricket. Klaasen is capable of winning games on his own. 
• Klaasen in T20s (2025): 38 innings, 928 runs at an average of 28.10, strike rate 144.50, including three fifties and a century.
• Ryan Rickelton was a key player in MI’s title triumph in the last edition. He likes to attack from the first ball and can score big in the powerplay itself if he gets going. Rickleton has this habit of converting his starts into big scores. 
• Ryan Rickelton in SA20 2024-25: 336 runs in 8 innings, average 48, 178.72 with three fifties.

Key batter picks: 

• Rassie van der Dussen was the second-highest run-scorer last season with 393 runs in 11 games at an average of 49.12, striking at 129.70. 
• He held the innings perfectly for MI with all the others batting around him. Rassie will be a must in your fantasy teams, considering the lack of depth in MI’s batting unit.
• Kane Williamson will play a similar role for DSG in this match. He’s expected to bat at four this season, which will affect his value with the bat. Despite all this, you can back him for this match. 
• Williamson in SA 2024/25: 233 runs in 7 innings at an average of 46.60 and striking at 118.87 with two fifties.

Top all-rounder picks: 

• Aiden Markram will now play for DSG in the SA20. He’s been in phenomenal form lately and will be a must in your fantasy teams. A top c/vc choice as well. Markram has 785 runs in 26 T20s this year. He averages 35.70 with eight fifties, striking at 140.20. He also has nine wickets to his name. 
• Corbin Bosch has been in top form in international cricket in the last few months. He’s been contributing with both bat and ball for the Proteas. Bosch will be a key all-rounder for MI and a top choice for your fantasy teams.
• Dwaine Pretorius is another good pick in fantasy cricket. He’s experienced, can bowl in any phase of the game, and is more than capable with the bat. He has 318 runs and 32 wickets in 26 T20s this year. 

Key bowler picks: 

• Noor Ahmad picked up 13 wickets in nine innings last season. He had a great IPL 2025 and was bowling well in the ongoing ILT20 (11 wickets in 8 games). He will be Durban’s lead spinner and can wreak havoc on his day. Try him as C/VC in the big leagues.
• Rashid Khan had 11 wickets to his name in the last edition of the SA20. But overall, this year hasn’t been up to his standards. He has 38 wickets in 36 T20s at an economy of 8.22 and a strike rate of 20.20. Rashid will be eager to do well with both bat and ball in this match.

Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Team 

• Devon Conway scored a double-hundred and followed it by a hundred in the same Test match. He will be confident and can be a great differential for this match. 
• David Wiese will bowl the key overs for Durban, and he can tonk the ball on his day. Wiese was in good form in the Abu Dhabi T10 league and will be a top differential choice.

Other picks you can consider: 

• Tristan Luus
• Simon Harmer
• Reeza Hendricks
• Gerald Coetzee

Head-to-Head

• Durban Super Giants have won 4 of the 6 games against MICT, with one game ending as a no result. Their first loss against MI came in the last edition.

SA20 2025/26 1st Match: MICT vs DSG Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams. 

Option 1:

Option 2:

SA20 2025/26 1st Match: MICT vs DSG Match Prediction Today

MI Cape Town have a strong squad but Nicholas Pooran’s potential absence for this match will be a big setback for them as their middle-order already looked vulnerable and now without him, they’ll rely heavily on their top order. Meanwhile, Durban looks very balanced with lots of experience and proven quality in their lineup. 

Durban Super Giants to win (if Pooran is out).