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The long awaited third edition of SA20 cricket league will begin on Thursday (January 9), with a thrilling opening clash between the defending champions. Eastern Cape sunrise and MY Cape Town at St George’s Park in Gqeberha. As excitement for the tournament builds, SA20 brand ambassador and legendary South African cricketer AB de Villiers shared his thoughts with select media outlets, offering insight into the league’s potential and players to watch.
The AB de Villiers player to watch out for in SA20 2025
When asked about a standout player for SA20 Season 3, De Villiers did not hesitate to name Donovan Ferreira, a hard-hitting South African batsman and new recruit for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the upcoming IPL 2025. Ferreira, who was bought for INR 75 lakh in the IPL 2025 mega auction, moved from Rajasthan Royals (RR) to Delhi. Representing Johannesburg Super Kings in SA20, the sister franchise of Chennai Super Kings (CSK)Ferreira has caught the attention of cricket experts.
“I think one player that stands out, and that I don’t talk about or haven’t talked about often in the past, is Donovan Ferreira. And the only sad thing is that he hits too low to really show his true potential. They are all a little older, where Donovan Ferreira is not the youngest either. But I haven’t seen enough of him and I wish they could put him at number 3 or 4 every once in a while so we can see what he’s really capable of. So that will be my choice. Hopefully this season will be his season where he gets more playing time and more time in the order.” De Villiers was quoted by Khel Now.
De Villiers reiterated the importance of using Ferreira higher up the order, with the batsman often arriving too late to make a substantial impact. He explained that Ferreira normally enters the game in the 16th or 17th, which leaves him without enough balls to show his full range of skills.
‘“I think he bats at number 6, and he showed a little bit of what he’s capable of doing in that last season once or twice, but not enough balls. I really hope he can come through from overs 6 onwards, you know, and sometimes from overs 8, where most of the time he comes in only at 16 or 17. He really shows his ability and then he comes out again and the balls are ready. So that’s a guy I would keep an eye on.” the 40-year-old added.
Also READ: South African legend Allan Donald picks two Indian stars he would love to see in the SA20 league
Comparisons with MS Dhoni and batting challenges
De Villiers, known for his ability to take 360-degree shots, made an intriguing comparison and claimed that Ferreira reminded him of MS Dhoni during his best years. Interestingly, de Villiers compared Ferreira’s batting style to Dhoni’s in his keynote speech, highlighting the similar ability to dominate bowlers and instil fear in world-class bowlers like Dale Steyn and Mitchell Starc. While he clarified that he was not directly comparing Ferreira to Dhoni, he emphasized Ferreira’s ability to hit the ball with incredible power and precision.
“I think he is an absolute winner of the match. Simply a fantastic player. He reminds me a little of MS Dhoni in his prime, and I don’t compare them. I’m saying it reminds me of him when MS was really brutal, against the bowlers. He really hit the ball, all parts of the ground. He made guys like Dale Steyn and Mitchell Starke look like they were afraid to bowl to him. And that’s the feeling I have with Donovan. Hit the ball very hard. “He has a very good eye and hopefully he will face a few more deliveries next season.” De Villiers concluded.
