Aiden Markram looking forward to new SA20 chapter with new team

Markram will captain the Kwazulu-Natal side after he was bought at auction for a whopping R14 million – the second highest bid in the competition’s history. He led his previous team to two titles plus a runners-up place in the first three seasons, and now says he’s looking forward to working with his new teammates and coach Lance Klusener to try and take the franchise to new heights.

Markram believes the balance within their squad will be their strength this season. He says there’s a few players in the team who are able to perform multiple roles as well as some big names that have joined.

"There is a really nice balance in the set-up and we have a nice group of guys. We have some really good all-rounders, mixed with 2-3 world class, and the likes of Butler, Klaasen and Livingstone joining apparently."

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DSG will be up first this Friday when they face last season’s winners MI Cape Town away at Newlands, with the reverse fixture against the same team taking place just two days later. He says winning those two matches against the defending champions would send a statement of intent from them this season.

As far as their preparation for the tournament is concerned, he believes they mainly need to identify their own strengths and weaknesses, and form a bond as a team.

"I think a lot of it comes down to finding our strength as a team and our identity and what gives us the best chance to play good cricket and win games of cricket, so it's obviously a new and exciting challenge for us in a competition with a lot of new faces."