Cape Town, South Africa – 23 July, 2025: Fresh off a historic maiden SA20 championship win in 2025, MI Cape Town has confirmed its list of retained players for the 2026 season, keeping a strong core of domestic and international stars as the franchise prepares to defend its title.
In total, six players have been retained — four South African and two overseas — all of whom were instrumental to the team’s success in 2025. The announcement reflects MI Cape Town’s emphasis on continuity, consistency, and its role within the larger Mumbai Indians global cricket system.
Key South African players retained
Ryan Rickelton and George Linde will return for their fourth consecutive season with MI Cape Town, while Corbin Bosch, who joined the franchise last season, also retains his place.
Kagiso Rabada has been signed as the team’s Wildcard player, bringing world-class pace and experience to the bowling lineup. Rabada was central to MI Cape Town’s strong showing in the 2025 season.
Star international names stay on
Leading the overseas contingent is Rashid Khan, who captained MI Cape Town to its first SA20 title. He returns alongside veteran New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult, who formed a potent partnership with Rabada during the 2025 campaign.
New to the squad is Nicholas Pooran, who has been pre-signed ahead of the 2026 season and will make his debut for the franchise. The explosive West Indian batter adds further firepower to an already dangerous batting order.
Building a winning culture
MI Cape Town’s decision to retain this experienced core highlights the franchise’s belief in a long-term team-building strategy that blends on-field performance with off-field professionalism.
“This group represents the values and ambition of MI Cape Town — talented, driven, and committed to the journey. We are proud of their achievements and excited about the road ahead as we look to defend our SA20 crown,” a franchise spokesperson said.
The 2026 SA20 season is expected to be the most competitive yet, and MI Cape Town’s retention strategy sends a strong message to rivals across the league.
MI Cape Town also extended gratitude to the players for their contributions during the 2025 title-winning campaign and reaffirmed their commitment to growing the team culture ahead of the new season.
