The SA20 is South Africa’s major T20 franchise cricket league. It began in January 2023 and features six teams competing for the championship. Since its launch, the tournament has produced several successful captains, including Aiden Markram, Rashid Khan and Tristan Stubbs, who have guided their teams to title-winning campaigns.
Aiden Markram is the most successful SA20 captain by titles won, having led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to consecutive championships in 2023 and 2024. Rashid Khan captained MI Cape Town to their first title in 2025, while Tristan Stubbs led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to another championship in 2026. Sunrisers Eastern Cape have won three of the first four SA20 editions, making them the most successful team in the league’s history.
Most Successful Captains in SA20 History
|
Rank |
Captain |
Team |
SA20 titles as captain |
Title-winning years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Aiden Markram |
Sunrisers Eastern Cape |
2 |
2023, 2024 |
|
2 |
Rashid Khan |
MI Cape Town |
1 |
2025 |
|
2 |
Tristan Stubbs |
Sunrisers Eastern Cape |
1 |
2026 |
Aiden Markram: Two SA20 Titles With Sunrisers Eastern Cape
Aiden Markram is the most successful SA20 captain by championship titles, having led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to consecutive trophies in 2023 and 2024. The team won the inaugural SA20 final against Pretoria Capitals before defeating Durban’s Super Giants in the 2024 final.
Markram played an important role in establishing Sunrisers Eastern Cape as a dominant team in the competition’s early years. Winning the first two editions made him the first captain to lead a team to back-to-back SA20 championships.
Rashid Khan: MI Cape Town’s First SA20 Championship
Rashid Khan captained MI Cape Town to their maiden SA20 title in 2025. The team defeated Sunrisers Eastern Cape by 76 runs in the final to secure its first championship.
The victory was a major milestone for MI Cape Town after challenging campaigns in the league’s earlier seasons. Rashid’s leadership helped the franchise finish the tournament with a memorable title-winning performance.
Tristan Stubbs: Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s Third Title
Tristan Stubbs led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to their third SA20 championship in 2026. The team defeated Pretoria Capitals by six wickets in a thrilling final at Newlands, Cape Town.
Pretoria Capitals scored 158/7, with Dewald Brevis hitting a century. Sunrisers faced a difficult chase but recovered through an unbeaten partnership between Stubbs and Matthew Breetzke. Stubbs scored 62 not out, helping his team reach the target with four balls remaining. The victory gave Sunrisers Eastern Cape their third title in four seasons and confirmed their position as the most successful franchise in SA20 history.
SA20 Captaincy Records: Titles and Achievements
|
Captain |
Titles as captain |
Key achievement |
|---|---|---|
|
Aiden Markram |
2 |
Led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to consecutive titles |
|
Rashid Khan |
1 |
Captained MI Cape Town to their first championship |
|
Tristan Stubbs |
1 |
Led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to the 2026 title |
Most Successful Teams in SA20 History
|
Rank |
Team |
SA20 titles |
Championship years |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Sunrisers Eastern Cape |
3 |
2023, 2024, 2026 |
|
2 |
MI Cape Town |
1 |
2025 |
Aiden Markram is the most successful SA20 captain by titles won, with two championships for Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Rashid Khan and Tristan Stubbs have each added one title to their captaincy records, leading MI Cape Town and Sunrisers Eastern Cape to victories in 2025 and 2026.
At the team level, Sunrisers Eastern Cape lead the competition with three trophies from the first four editions. Their success highlights the importance of consistent performances and effective leadership in the SA20.