SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith revealed the process behind Sourav Ganguly’s appointment as head coach of the Pretoria Capitals.
Sourav Ganguly Embarks on Maiden Coaching Role with Pretoria Capitals
During his illustrious career, Sourav Ganguly wore multiple hats—a destructive batter, a clever bowler, and one of India’s greatest captains. Even after retiring, Sourav Ganguly remained active, venturing into broadcasting, taking administrative roles as president of the Cricket Association of Bengal and the BCCI, and serving as Director of Cricket for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL. Despite suffering a heart attack, his post-retirement life reflects his on-field energy, constantly staying involved and pushing boundaries.
In recent months, Sourav Ganguly has hinted at exploring coaching opportunities. On August 24, he took his first concrete step by joining the Pretoria Capitals for the 4th season of the SA20. Drawing from his contrasting experiences under coaches John Wright and Greg Chappell, Ganguly aims to apply those learnings in his maiden coaching stint.
The news was initially kept under wraps, surprising many when the announcement was finally made. Sourav Ganguly had been approached by the franchise last season, even while Jonathan Trott was coaching. Pretoria had endured two difficult seasons, finishing near the bottom in 2024 and 2025, and sought a shake-up. Sourav Ganguly finalized his decision and informed league commissioner Graeme Smith during the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s in June.
“In and around the World Test Championship final, Dada told me that he was going to be coaching this year. He has been involved with the Capitals, Director of Cricket, among other things. Last year, he was asked, even though Jonathan Trott was here coaching. We saw Dada on countless occasions in and around learning. For us, it’s exciting to have the quality of Dada as a coach,” said Smith in a statement to The Hindustan Times.
Smith added, “The quality of coaches across the board is exciting. It’s an exposure for our players to the great minds of the game. Look, Dada is going to come in and do things his own way. PC did not have the greatest years last season, but I am sure he will be motivated at the auction to bring quality players forward.” With Sourav Ganguly on board, following Indian coach Dinesh Karthik’s stint with Paarl Royals last year, the SA20 now opens the door for more Indian coaches to join South Africa’s T20 league.
Will Dewald Brevis make history at the auction?
South Africa’s finest, along with a host of global stars, will headline the SA20 Season 4 Player Auction in Johannesburg on September 9. More than 500 players will go under the hammer as six franchises complete their 19-member squads ahead of the season, which kicks off on December 26. Of the 541 players in the pool, 300 are South Africans, with Dewald Brevis tipped to make history at the auction.
After making his SA20 debut in 2023, Brevis took some time to adjust, but he has now hit his stride. His recent breakthrough in T20Is for South Africa, including an unbeaten 125 in Darwin and a quick 53 in Cairns, has cemented his reputation as a dynamic young talent. At just 22, Brevis has already competed at the highest levels of T20 cricket, featuring for Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, as well as MI New York in the SA20. The IPL has shown that when franchises identify a player as a perfect fit, price is rarely a barrier.
With marquee names like Tristan Stubbs, Aiden Markram, and Brevis in contention, SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith expressed excitement at the prospect of the youngster stepping out of the ‘Baby AB’ shadow.
“It’s great to see Dewald really starting to find his feet. It’s incredible to think how young he still is. When he came onto the scene, he had huge talent, and many people spoke about it. It took him time, but he seems to have settled and found his style. He’s brilliant in the field, powerful with the bat, runs extremely well between the wickets, and is an asset for South African cricket,” Smith said.
