Schoolboy Jason Rowles becomes most expensive buy at SA20 2027 auction

Eighteen-year-old schoolboy Jason Rowles emerged as the most expensive signing at the SA20 2027 auction, with Joburg Super Kings (JSK) splashing R 2.9 million to secure his services. JSK overcame arch-rivals MI Cape Town in a fierce bidding war to bring the teenage allrounder into their ranks.

Rowles, a left-handed batter who also bowls useful left-arm spin, was South Africa's leading run-scorer at the ICC Men's U19 World Cup earlier this year. He amassed 280 runs in five matches at an average of 70.00 and a strike rate of 112.00, including a century and a half-century. The youngster also struck a double century in a Youth Test against England U19 in Hove in July while captaining South Africa U19.

"Jason Rowles was the highlight of the day for me. Seeing an 18-year-old spark the biggest bidding battle of the day tells you how much the franchises believe in the next generation," SA20 League Commissioner Graeme Smith said in a statement.

"It was only last year that he was participating in the final of the Schools SA20, and today he will be part of a squad featuring some of the world's best T20 stars. That's the pathway we set out to build, and it's hugely encouraging to see it working."

Interestingly, Joburg Super Kings also snapped up Kieron Pollard for R 1.5 million, with MI Cape Town opting not to enter the bidding despite Pollard's long-standing association with the Mumbai Indians franchise and his key role in their global success. JSK further strengthened their squad by re-signing former captain Faf du Plessis for R 2.7 million after another bidding battle with MI Cape Town.

How do all the squads stack up after the SA20 2027 auction?

Joburg Super Kings

Retained players: Jarren Bacher, Matthew de Villiers, Leus du Plooy, Donovan Ferreira, Dian Forrester, Akeal Hosein (West Indies), Duan Jansen, Rilee Rossouw, Janco Smit, Prenelan Subrayen, James Vince (England)

Pre-signing: Jason Holder (West Indies)

Auction signings: Faf du Plessis (R2,700,000), Jason Rowles (R2,900,000), Dayyaan Galiem (R375,000), Kieron Pollard (R1,500,000), Blessing Muzarabani (R500,000), Andries Gous (R1,000,000)

MI Cape Town

Retained players: Corbin Bosch, Reeza Hendricks, Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Thomas Kaber, George Linde, Tristan Luus (U23), Dane Piedt, Nicholas Pooran (West Indies), Kagiso Rabada (Wildcard), Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tiaan van Vuuren

Pre-signing: Will Jacks (England)

Auction signings: Shimron Hetmyer (R1,500,000), Wiaan Mulder (R2,600,000), Trent Boult (R1,500,000), Daniel Smith (R200,000), Lehan Botha (R200,000), Oliver Whitehead (R200,000)

Pretoria Capitals

Retained players: Dewald Brevis, Connor Esterhuizen, Wihan Lubbe, Keshav Maharaj, Bayanda Majola (U23), Lungi Ngidi, Bryce Parsons, Gideon Peters, Andre Russell (West Indies, Wildcard), Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies), Lizaad Williams, Codi Yusuf

Pre-signings: Phil Salt (England), Matthew Short (Australia)

Auction signings: Rassie van der Dussen (R500,000), Keemo Paul (R200,000), Ackeem Auguste (R200,000), Josh Breed (R200,000), Temba Bavuma (R200,000)

Sunrisers Eastern Cape

Retained players: Matthew Breetzke, James Coles (England), Quinton de Kock, Lewis Gregory (England), Jordan Hermann, Marco Jansen (Wildcard), CJ King (U23), JP King, Patrick Kruger, Adam Milne (New Zealand), Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla, Tristan Stubbs, Mitchell van Buuren

Pre-signings: Mitch Marsh (Australia), Rishad Hossain (Bangladesh)

Auction signings: Nandre Burger (R500,000), Craig Overton (R1,500,000)

Paarl Royals

Retained players: Ottneil Baartman, JJ Basson (U23), Bjorn Fortuin, Rubin Hermann, Dan Lawrence (England), Keagan Lion-Cachet, David Miller, Nqobani Mokoena (U23), Gudakesh Motie (West Indies), Delano Potgieter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius (U23), Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe), Thomas Rew (England), Asa Tribe (Jersey), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan), Kyle Verreynne, Hardus Viljoen

Pre-signings: Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan), Joe Root (Wildcard)

Auction signings: None

Durban's Super Giants

Retained players: Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Eathan Bosch, Jos Buttler (England), Gerald Coetzee, Devon Conway (New Zealand), Tony de Zorzi, Daryn Dupavillon, Simon Harmer, Evan Jones, Heinrich Klaasen (Wildcard), Liam Livingstone (England), Kwena Maphaka (U23), Aiden Markram, Sunil Narine (West Indies), Andile Simelane (U23), Kyle Simmonds, Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

Pre-signing: Sam Curran (England)