The 18-Year-Old Who Topped South Africa’s Multi-Million-Dollar Cricket Auction

Jason Rowles had only played one Twenty20 match as a professional cricketer when he was signed by the Joburg Super Kings for an astonishing R2.9 million ($175,000) at the auction for the fifth season of the SA20 (South Africa’s franchise Twenty20 cricket league, run by Cricket South Africa).

The 18-year-old, who is still in his final year of school, became an instant millionaire, having started the auction with a base price of R200,000 ($12,100).

Rowles is a left-handed all-rounder who bowls slow left-arm orthodox spin and is certainly not an unknown talent.

He was South Africa’s leading run-scorer at the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year and scored a double-hundred in a youth Test against England in July.

“Did I think he was going to go for that amount of money? No, definitely not. But he’s someone that we really wanted,” Super Kings coach Albie Morkel told reporters after the auction.

Rowles’ price in the SA20 was higher than that of an experienced stalwart in Faf du Plessis ($163,500), though it is some way off the record R16.5 million($999,000) the Pretoria Capitals paid for Dewald Brevis in 2025.

Wiaan Mulder has made the switch from the Joburg Super Kings to MI Cape Town for a price of R2.6 million ($157,000) in what could be one of the bargains of the season if he can fire.

The Super Kings have signed tall Zimbabwean fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani for R500,000 ($30,000), and he should enjoy the bouncy tracks of the Highveld.

There is a first this year as the Super Kings also acquired United States international Andries Gous, though the batter is South African-born. They have paid R1 million ($60,550) for his services.

Big-hitting West Indian Shimron Hetmyer takes his explosive style to MI Cape Town for a fee of R1.5 million ($90,830), while the Mother City side retained New Zealand swing bowler Trent Boult for the same price.

South Africa Test and One-Day International captain Temba Bavuma secured a price of R200,000 ($12,110) and was signed by the Pretoria Capitals.

A total of R18.475 million ($1.1 million) was spent on 19 players at this year’s SA20 auction. That is well down on the R129.3 million($7.8 million) that was spent in 2025, though on that occasion 84 players were bought.

Season 5 of the SA20 starts on January 17 and will again feature six sides. The final is on February 21.