Mumbai Indians Cape Town will face Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the playing XI | courtesy - BCCI/IPL/SA 20
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- MI Cape Town will hope for a change of fortunes in SA20 2025
- Rashid Khan will lead the team
- Dewald Brevis will continue playing for MI Cape Town
MI Cape Town (Mumbai Indians' sister) franchise will play Sunrisers Eastern Cape (Sunrisers Hyderabad) in the opening match of the 2024 SA20 on Thursday (January 9) at St. George Park in Gqeberha. So far, the two teams have had contrasting fortunes in the first two seasons of the league.
The Sunrisers, led by Aiden Markram, won the title in both the 2023 and 2024 editions of the league. However, MI have finished last in both seasons despite having one of the strongest sides in world cricket on paper.
Ahead of the third season, they added further fire-power to the unit by signing England Test captain Ben Stokes. However, the star all-rounder suffered a hamstring injury during the third Test of the England-New Zealand series and will miss the competition. He has been replaced by Afghanistan opener Sediqullah Atal, but the 21-year-old is unlikely to make the playing XI.
South African wicketkeeper Ryan Rickleton, who has also been signed up by the Mumbai Indians in the 2025 IPL Auction, will open the batting with Proteas opener Reeza Hendricks. Veteran batter Rassie van der Dussen and young star Dewald Brevis will form a solid batting unit and play at numbers three and four.
In Stokes' absence, Afghanistan star Azmatullah Omarzai will be among the team's most important players. Colin Ingram will bat in the lower middle order. Rashid Khan, who is among the T20's greatest players in history, will lead the side and spearhead the spin attack alongside George Linde.
Trent Boult and Kagiso Rabada will lead a legendary pace attack that will be supported by Corbin Bosch, who made a memorable Test debut for South Africa in the recently concluded series against Pakistan. This will mean Nuwan Thushara starts the tournament on the bench.
MI Cape Town Likely XI VS Sunrisers Eastern Cape SA20 2025: Ryan Rickleton, Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Dewald Brevis, Colin Ingram, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (C), George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult
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