SA20 returns on Sunday 17 January 2027 with a rematch of the previous final: Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the defending champions, play Pretoria Capitals at St George's Park in Gqeberha. Five weeks and 34 matches later, the final is at Newlands in Cape Town on 21 February.
This guide has the timings in IST, the six franchises, the playoff schedule and how to approach SA20 fantasy. Squads are added to CricketDream as they are confirmed. Predictor is open for every match now.
Season at a glance
The six franchises
Match timings in India
SA20 is a late-evening tournament in India. Weeknight games start at 5:30 PM South Africa time (9:00 PM IST). Saturdays have doubleheaders: the first game starts at 1:00 PM SAST (4:30 PM IST) and the second at 5:30 PM SAST (9:00 PM IST). Sunday games start at 3:30 PM SAST (7:00 PM IST).
- Opening weekend: Sunrisers Eastern Cape v Pretoria Capitals (Sun 17 Jan, Gqeberha), then Paarl Royals v Joburg Super Kings (Mon 18 Jan, Paarl).
- First Saturday doubleheader: Durban's Super Giants v Pretoria Capitals at Kingsmead and Joburg Super Kings v Sunrisers Eastern Cape at the Wanderers (23 Jan).
- Last league day: MI Cape Town v Pretoria Capitals at Newlands on Sunday 14 February.
- Playoffs: Qualifier 1 in Paarl (16 Feb), Eliminator and Qualifier 2 in Johannesburg (17 and 19 Feb), Final in Cape Town (21 Feb).
How to approach SA20 fantasy
- Know the venues. Six different grounds are used in the league stage (Gqeberha, Paarl, Centurion, Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg), and conditions differ between the coast and the Highveld. Check the pitch report on the match page before you lock.
- Back the international names. Each franchise has international batters and bowlers who play every game. They are the first picks for captain and vice-captain.
- Play for the powerplay. In T20, the first six overs deliver the most fantasy points. Top-order batters in teams that bat first and new-ball bowlers are the best value.
- Use the doubleheaders. On Saturdays, you have two matches to build teams for, so use a different captain in each.
- Check the confirmed XI every time. Squads change through a five-week season, and a player named in the squad is not always in the XI.
SA20 starts two days after the last ODI of England's tour of South Africa, so some players may arrive from international duty. Check team news on the match page, and switch your XI after the toss if you are playing a draft.
Play free on CricketDream
Every CricketDream game is free, with no entry fee and no prize pool. Pick 11 players within the credit budget, choose a captain (2x points) and vice-captain (1.5x points), and your score updates live through the match.
Open the SA20 2027 hub for the full schedule, teams and your free Predictor games.
Open SA20 hubFrequently asked questions
When does SA20 2027 start and end?
It starts on 17 January 2027 and the final is on 21 February 2027 at Newlands in Cape Town.
What time are SA20 matches in India?
Most evening games start at 9:00 PM IST. Saturday afternoon games start at 4:30 PM IST and Sunday games at 7:00 PM IST.
How many teams and matches are there?
Six teams and 34 matches: 30 league matches, Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and the Final.
Who won the last SA20?
Sunrisers Eastern Cape are the defending champions. They play Pretoria Capitals, the team they beat in the 2026 final, in the 2027 opener.
Can I play SA20 fantasy on CricketDream?
Yes, free. Predictor is open for every match now, and Fantasy XI, Draft and Multi-Draft open match by match as squads are loaded.
Is CricketDream fantasy free to play?
Yes. Fantasy XI, Draft, Multi-Draft, Predictor, Cricket Quiz and CricketQuest are all completely free, with no entry fees and no cash prizes.