Sourav Ganguly is on the cusp of adding another significant achievement to his illustrious career as his team, the Pretoria Capitals, stand just one win away from clinching the SA20 title. The former India captain and BCCI President has taken on the role of head coach for the Capitals in the fourth edition of the SA20, and his leadership has guided the team to the final.
The Pretoria Capitals, owned by JSW Sports, will face the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the final match. This is the second final in the tournament's history for the Pretoria Capitals. The final will be held on January 25 at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, which is expected to be sold out.
Under Ganguly's guidance, the Pretoria Capitals finished the league stage in second place, accumulating 24 points from 10 matches, with five wins and four losses. They demonstrated their strength by defeating Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Qualifier 1 at Kingsmead, Durban, securing their spot in the final. Dewald Brevis played a crucial role in that victory, scoring an impressive unbeaten 75 off 38 balls.
Ganguly's approach to coaching emphasizes building relationships and fostering open communication with his players. He aims to be a friend and mentor, sharing his experiences and providing clarity to help them perform at their best. He was also in contact with his players via calls soon after the auction in September 2025. According to Ganguly, great players are mature and want to do well, so he tries to be friends with them and help them see things clearly. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has lauded Ganguly's coaching, highlighting his ability to showcase Indian coaching talent on the global stage. Shaun Pollock also serves as an assistant coach.
The Sunrisers Eastern Cape, captained by Keshav Maharaj, finished top of the league standings. They had a strong net run rate of +1.762, winning 5 games, losing 3, and having 2 no results. Despite the Sunrisers' strong performance in the group stages, the Capitals defeated them in Qualifier 1. The Sunrisers then secured their place in the final by defeating Paarl Royals in Qualifier 2. Maharaj is hoping to create happier memories at Newlands after a previous defeat in the Betway SA20 Season 2 Final. He recognizes the Sunrisers' experience in finals and is focused on ensuring his team matches their energy.
The final offers a substantial prize of R32.5 million for the winners, the second-highest franchise purse behind the IPL. The remaining teams will share R70 million.
