Pretoria Capitals may have fallen one step short of lifting the SA20 trophy last season, but the campaign established a platform the franchise now hopes to build upon heading into Season 5.
After reaching the final before narrowly losing to Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the Capitals have retained confidence that the environment created within the squad can drive another title challenge. Much of that belief stems from the culture established during Sourav Ganguly’s first season as head coach, with the former India captain playing a central role in shaping the team’s identity both on and off the field.
Building a winning environment
Rather than focusing solely on performances during matches, Pretoria Capitals placed significant emphasis on creating a close-knit dressing room throughout the tournament, something captain Keshav Maharaj believes became one of the team’s biggest strengths.
“I think in tournaments like this, you’ve got to build a nice team culture around everything, and Sourav was amazing at that,” Keshav Maharaj said in an SA20 release.
“We had a lot of guys that bought into what we tried to achieve. Often during the competition, when we weren’t playing, we’d get in the team room, have dinner together, watch other games, and chat cricket. There was a real buzz and energy within the camp, which was a privilege to be a part of,” he added.
The Capitals’ progress to the final represented a significant turnaround after a disappointing previous campaign, with Maharaj believing the foundations established during Ganguly’s first season can continue benefiting the franchise in the years ahead.
“To create something so special in the first season was really exciting. Hopefully, we can build on that, and that will last for generations to come,” Maharaj said.
Focus shifts to a new season
Pretoria Capitals will begin their Season 5 campaign against defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape in a repeat of last season’s final, offering an immediate opportunity to measure themselves against the side that denied them the title.
Despite the fixture naturally drawing attention because of last season’s result, Maharaj insisted the focus is firmly on making a strong start rather than viewing the contest as an opportunity for revenge.
“It’s always going to be the case to the public (revenge), but I think it’s just about putting our best foot forward,” he stated.
“We know it’s always important to start the competition really well on the front foot, and to do it against the defending champions would be a nice step in the right direction towards the new season,” Maharaj added.
The Capitals will open their campaign against Sunrisers Eastern Cape before returning to Centurion for their first home fixture against Durban’s Super Giants, looking to build on the momentum generated by last season’s run to the final.
