The players released by JSK ahead of the SA20 Season 5 auction have sent shockwaves through the competition, with Joburg Super Kings opting for one of the biggest squad overhauls in the league’s history. In a bold move, the franchise parted ways with long-time captain Faf du Plessis, record signing Wiaan Mulder, and Proteas pacer Nandre Burger, signaling the end of an era after four seasons without a title. While JSK have retained a strong core and made several pre-signings, the JSK released players list reflects a clear shift towards rebuilding the squad under a new leadership group ahead of the 2026/27 SA20 season.
JSK released players 2027
While the franchise has retained the core of its squad and added a few exciting pre-signings, several high-profile names have been released in a move that signals a fresh approach for the upcoming season.
Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis’ release marks the end of an era for Joburg Super Kings after captaining the franchise across all four SA20 seasons. Under his leadership, JSK won 16 of their 40 matches, while he established himself as the franchise’s leading run-scorer with 1,029 runs at an average of 32.15 and a strike rate of 143.19, including 1 century and 7 fifties.
However, an injury-laden 2026 campaign restricted him to just five matches, and with Stephen Fleming stepping down as head coach, JSK may have opted for a complete leadership transition.
Wiaan Mulder
Wiaan Mulder arrived at Joburg Super Kings as their most expensive signing at the SA20 2025 auction, costing R9 million, but failed to consistently justify the investment. In the previous season, the South African all-rounder managed 137 runs in 10 innings while picking up nine wickets at an economy rate of nearly 10, making him one of the high-profile releases as JSK looked to rebuild their squad for the 2026/27 season.
Nandre Burger
Nandre Burger’s release appears to be part of Joburg Super Kings’ wider squad overhaul before the auction. The left-arm pacer claimed 7 wickets in 7 matches last season but has struggled with recurring back injuries, including a lumbar stress reaction that affected his availability. Combined with JSK’s intent to free up auction funds and reshape the squad under a new coaching setup, the franchise chose to move on from the South African quick.
Daniel Worrall
Daniel Worrall largely served as a backup option for Joburg Super Kings during the previous SA20 season, featuring in just 4 matches and claiming 4 wickets. With limited opportunities and JSK looking to refresh their pace attack, the franchise appears to have prioritised younger and more dynamic bowling options. We are in a squad overhaul phase with no room for mediocrity.
Reece Topley
Joburg Super Kings signed Reece Topley for R1 million at the SA20 2025 Player Auction, but the England left-arm pacer did not feature in a single match during the 2025/26 season. Having occupied an overseas slot without making an on-field impact, his release allows JSK greater flexibility to strengthen other areas of the squad.
Imran Tahir
Imran Tahir’s release brings an end to a memorable stint with Joburg Super Kings, having claimed 18 wickets in 22 matches for the franchise. Although the 47-year-old recently captained the Guyana Amazon Warriors to the Global Super League title, JSK appear to have shifted towards a younger spin unit comprising Prenelan Subrayen, Jarren Bacher, and Akeal Hosein, making Tahir’s departure part of the team’s long-term transition. The younger brigade will be leading the spin attack.
Rivaldo Moonsamy
Rivaldo Moonsamy struggled to make an impact during his limited opportunities with Joburg Super Kings, scoring just 14 runs in 4 matches. Having failed to deliver in crucial games, the franchise likely opted to release the wicketkeeper-batter in search of a more reliable option.
Neil Timmers
Neil Timmers featured in just 2 matches during the previous SA20 season, scoring 47 runs. While his release may come as a surprise, JSK’s strong batting core and preference for younger, long-term prospects likely made it difficult for the youngster to retain his place in the squad. He might be bought back in the auction.
Jorich van Schalkwyk
Jorich van Schalkwyk was initially brought in by Joburg Super Kings as a temporary replacement during the tournament. However, after becoming unavailable following his selection for South Africa’s ICC Under-19 World Cup squad, JSK replaced him with Duan Jansen, making his release a straightforward squad management decision rather than a performance-related one.
Steve Stolk
Steve Stolk did not feature in a single match for Joburg Super Kings during the previous SA20 season, making it difficult to justify a retention. With Matthew de Villiers emerging as a promising young batter, JSK appear to have backed the latter as their long-term option. However, Stolk remains a strong candidate to be re-signed if available at the auction.
Shubham Ranjane
Shubham Ranjane’s release reflects Joburg Super Kings’ intent to build a new core ahead of SA20 Season 5. The Indian batter left the tournament midway through the previous season due to national commitments and managed 101 runs in six matches before his departure. With JSK undergoing a significant squad overhaul, the franchise has seemingly chosen to move in a different direction.
Brandon King
Brandon King’s release comes after an injury-hit campaign that saw him ruled out and replaced by Matthew de Villiers during the previous season. Having retained Matthew de Villiers as their preferred wicketkeeper-batter, JSK chose not to use an overseas slot on King.
Michael Pepper
Michael Pepper was signed by Joburg Super Kings as a temporary replacement for Shubham Ranjane after the latter departed for national duty during the 2025/26 season. Having fulfilled a short-term role, Pepper was not retained as JSK reshaped their squad for next season. His release was largely a contractual decision rather than one based on performance.
Richard Gleeson
Richard Gleeson’s release forms part of Joburg Super Kings’ extensive squad rebuild after 4 seasons without a title. The England pacer claimed 9 wickets in 6 matches, but an economy rate exceeding 10 runs per over, combined with his age, 38, and the need to free up valuable overseas slots, likely influenced the franchise’s decision to move on and target younger international talent.
