Proteas legend AB de Villiers can’t hide his excitement for the SA20 Season 3 opener, set to take place on January 9 at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.
The highly anticipated clash will feature double champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape taking on MI Cape Town.
“St George’s Park has the best atmosphere of all the grounds,” De Villiers said. “During my playing days, they always got right behind me. With the band playing, it feels like you’ve got earpods in, dancing to some tunes while playing cricket.”
Reflecting on Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s dominance over the past two seasons, De Villiers praised the leadership of coach Adrian Birrell and captain Aiden Markram.
“The Sunrisers have been incredibly successful, winning both seasons. Their strength lies in their ability to play as a team—something Adrian has cultivated so well. He’s a humble farmer from the Eastern Cape, a true legend who brings calmness and focuses on the basics.”
The dynamic opener is anticipating a thrilling contest, especially with MI Cape Town’s acquisition of England’s Ben Stokes for this season.
“MI Cape Town are a star-studded team, and now with Ben Stokes, they’re even better. But it shows the best teams on paper don’t always win championships. Still, I expect a stronger performance from them this year.”
As part of the SA20 commentary team, De Villiers looks forward to another month of high-energy cricket.
“We’re 50 days out, and I can already feel the hype. The first two seasons had incredible excitement, and I urge everyone to come out, support the teams, and have a lot of fun with us.”
With only weeks to go, cricket fans are gearing up for what promises to be an electrifying start to SA20 Season 3.