Kagiso Rabada in SA20 2027: MI Cape Town Wildcard and Wicket Record

Kagiso Rabada is MI Cape Town’s retained wildcard for Betway SA20 Season 5. The South African fast bowler is already in the announced squad and does not need to be bought at the 7 October 2026 auction. He has taken 41 wickets in 35 SA20 matches, all for MI Cape Town, including 4/25 in the franchise’s 2025 title-winning final.

Which team does Kagiso Rabada play for in SA20 2027?

Rabada remains with MI Cape Town, his franchise in every completed SA20 season. The league’s Season 5 squad announcement lists him in the retained group with a wildcard designation. Rashid Khan is captain, Robin Peterson is head coach, and Will Jacks is the team’s separate new pre-signing.

MI Cape Town have 13 announced players and six places to fill at the October auction. Rabada already occupies one of those 13 places; he is not competing for an auction vacancy. His confirmed squad status does not guarantee selection in a particular playing XI. Follow the MI Cape Town team page and SA20 2027 squads for later roster changes.

Why is Kagiso Rabada called MI Cape Town’s wildcard?

SA20 allows each franchise one wildcard within its 19-player squad. Rabada is MI Cape Town’s named wildcard for Season 5, a role he also held on the 2026 roster. Under the league’s auction rules, the wildcard’s league fee sits outside the salary cap. The label describes a signing category, not an auction slot still to be filled or a separate team captaincy.

Rashid Khan remains MI Cape Town’s captain. Rabada is a retained fast bowler who can be selected alongside other bowling options; the actual match lineup is decided nearer each fixture.

How many SA20 wickets has Kagiso Rabada taken?

Rabada has 41 wickets in 35 matches across the four completed SA20 seasons. His best figures are 4/25. The year-by-year figures below come from his official SA20 player record.

The 2025 figures carry the clearest match context. In the Season 3 final at the Wanderers, Rabada took 4/25 against Sunrisers Eastern Cape, who were bowled out for 105 chasing MI Cape Town’s 181/8. MI Cape Town won by 76 runs to claim their first SA20 title. His 2026 return was nine wickets in eight matches; those completed numbers should not be mixed with the empty 2027 row on live stat pages.

When is Rabada’s first scheduled MI Cape Town match?

MI Cape Town host Joburg Super Kings on Wednesday, 20 January 2027, at Newlands, Cape Town. Match 4 is scheduled for 5:30 PM SAST, equivalent to 9:00 PM IST in India and 8:30 PM PKT in Pakistan. The SA20 2027 schedule has the remaining fixtures.

Fitness and selection: The ICC reported on 21 September 2026 that Rabada was rehabilitating a right hamstring injury sustained in August. That dated update does not remove him from MI Cape Town’s announced Season 5 squad or establish his fitness for a match in January. His availability and the playing XI will need checking closer to the opener.

Kagiso Rabada SA20 2027 questions

Is Kagiso Rabada in the 7 October 2026 auction? No. MI Cape Town have retained him as their Season 5 wildcard.

How many SA20 wickets does Rabada have? He has 41 wickets in 35 matches through the 2026 season, all for MI Cape Town.

What did Rabada take in the 2025 SA20 final? He took 4/25 against Sunrisers Eastern Cape as MI Cape Town won their first title by 76 runs.

Is Rabada confirmed to play MI Cape Town’s 2027 opener? No playing XI or January fitness clearance has been announced. He is in the retained squad; match selection remains to be confirmed.