Aiden Markram Says No To Kavya Maran & Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Heads To SA20 2026 Auction: Report

In a significant development ahead of the upcoming SA20 2026 season, Aiden Markram has opted out of being retained by Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the franchise he led to back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. Instead, the seasoned South African batter has decided to enter the player auction, which is set to take place on September 9.

Markram, who captained the Sunrisers during their most successful campaigns and finished as the third-highest run-scorer in the 2025 season where they ended as runners-up, informed the management - headed by team owner Kavya Maran - of his decision as per a report by ESPNCricinfo.

While the Sunrisers won't retain him, they still hold the right-to-match (RTM) option, which means they could still bid for him during the auction and bring him back into the fold.

This announcement comes just before the official retention list for the SA20 2026 season is made public on July 23. Big domestic names like Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, and Faf du Plessis have either been retained or pre-signed by their respective franchises. International stars such as Rashid Khan, Jos Buttler, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Nicholas Pooran are also part of the pre-auction plans.

SA20, now entering its fourth edition, has undergone several format changes. This year, teams are allowed to retain or pre-sign only up to six players - the fewest since the league's inception. Another major tweak is the introduction of a wildcard pick before the auction, which can be used to sign either an overseas or domestic player at a value outside of the team's purse.

A total of 72 out of 102 roster spots are open for the six teams to fill. The salary cap has also been raised to R41 million (approximately USD 2.31 million), giving franchises more financial flexibility.

Unlike previous editions, SA20 2026 will enjoy a largely exclusive window, with minimal scheduling conflict with the ILT20, allowing for broader player availability. The tournament kicks off on December 26.