SA20 continues meteoric rise with record-breaking third season

The third edition of South Africa’s premier T20 franchise league, SA20, has delivered record-breaking numbers across attendance, broadcast and digital platforms, firmly establishing itself as one of the most followed live sporting events in the country.


The 2025 season witnessed unprecedented crowd engagement, with over 400,000 fans attending matches across six venues. A 70% surge in sold-out fixtures, including a full house for the final for the third year running, marked SA20 Season 3 as the most attended edition to date. MI Cape Town's home ground, Newlands, etched history by selling out all five of its home games—a first in the League’s short but growing legacy.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

One of the season's standout moments came during the clash between Joburg Super Kings and Sunrisers Eastern Cape at the Wanderers, where the league celebrated selling its one millionth ticket.

Fan satisfaction remained sky-high, with 93% of attendees rating their stadium experience as "excellent" and 90% expressing a keen interest in returning for Season 4.

On the broadcast front, Nielsen Sports SA reported a 47% rise in viewership on SuperSport, with the opening match between Sunrisers Eastern Cape and MI Cape Town becoming the most-watched season opener in league history. The grand finale saw a 72% increase in local viewership compared to the previous season, as MI Cape Town clinched the title.



The league’s international appeal also soared, with global viewership—spanning India, the UK, the US, and Pan-African regions—jumping by 37%. These numbers cement SA20’s status as one of the most prominent T20 franchise leagues outside India.

SA20 also thrived in the digital arena. The league registered a 62% growth in social media followers, an 87% spike for franchise accounts, a 93% boost in video views, and a staggering 233% rise in website traffic from the previous season.

This growing popularity translated into significant media traction. The league saw a 30% rise in media value in South Africa and a remarkable 96% increase in India. Print media coverage also surged by 231%.

Reflecting on the season’s success, League Commissioner Graeme Smith said: “Season three of the SA20 has been an absolute game-changer. This is the third year running that we have seen unprecedented growth across broadcast, attendance and digital platforms. We have really made a mark as one of the leading sport and entertainment brands in the country. Globally, our numbers continue to increase and support our vision of being the biggest T20 cricket league outside of India.”

Season 3 also underlined SA20’s commitment to youth development. Through its learnership programme, the league offered hands-on experience to 26 young professionals, including participants from the Laureus YES (Youth Employment in Sport) initiative and photography students.

In its partnership with the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, SA20 raised R630,000 to support programmes aimed at helping youth tackle societal challenges like poverty, homelessness, and substance abuse.

The season also saw the successful launch of Schools SA20, a first-of-its-kind grassroots initiative featuring over 600 participating schools, including a debut girls’ competition. The final showdown at Cricket South Africa's High Performance Centre crowned Steyn City School (Johannesburg) and Bishops Diocesan College (Cape Town) as the inaugural girls’ and boys’ champions, respectively. In a boost to youth education and sport, two promising Grade 7 cricketers received full scholarships to the winning schools.

“The positive impact off the field is equally important and rewarding for us as the League,” Smith added.

“The Schools SA20 was an excellent platform for the next generation in its debut season and will no doubt continue to give hundreds of young cricketers around the country opportunities.”


Get IPL 2025 match schedules, squads, points table, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.