Pretoria Capitals captain Keshav Maharaj has heaped praise on head coach Sourav Ganguly, crediting his exceptional ability to build a cohesive team culture as a key factor in the franchise's run to the SA20 Season 4 final. Maharaj made the remarks in an interview with SA20 on Monday, ahead of the Capitals' upcoming Season 5 campaign.

Ganguly's Culture-Building at the Heart of Capitals' Rise

'I think in tournaments like this, you've got to build a nice team culture around everything, and Sourav was amazing at that,' Maharaj said. He described how players regularly gathered in the team room during non-match days — sharing dinners, watching other games, and talking cricket — creating a genuine sense of togetherness.

'There was a real buzz and energy within the camp, which was a privilege to be a part of. To create something so special in the first season was really exciting. Hopefully, we can build on that, and that will last for generations to come,' Maharaj added.

Season 5 Opener: A High-Stakes Rematch Against Sunrisers

The Pretoria Capitals are scheduled to open their Season 5 campaign against defending champions Sunrisers in Gqeberha on 17 January 2027 — a direct rematch of last season's final. The tournament is set to conclude on 21 February 2027 with the final at Newlands in Cape Town.

Maharaj struck a forward-looking note when asked about revenge against the Sunrisers. 'It's always going to be the case to the public, but I think it's just about putting our best foot forward. We know it's always important to start the competition really well on the front foot, and to do it against the defending champions would be a nice step in the right direction towards the new season,' he said.

Maharaj's Standout Season with Ball and Leadership

The left-arm spinner led from the front in his debut season at SuperSport Park in Centurion, claiming 12 wickets in 12 matches at an economy rate of 6.54. Having previously represented Durban's Super Giants for three seasons, Maharaj spoke warmly of the transition to Pretoria and the reception he received from the home crowd.

'When I made the transition to play in Pretoria, that was one of the things I looked forward to — seeing the crowd — and they really didn't disappoint. They exceeded every bit of my expectations,' he said.

Centurion Crowd: A Driving Force

Maharaj reserved special words for the SuperSport Park faithful, describing the atmosphere through the highs and lows of the season as 'phenomenal'. 'To see them through good and bad times, the crowd at Centurion was phenomenal, and long may that continue. It's a wonderful place to play cricket, to embrace the fans, and for the fans to embrace us the way they did was just what we needed to spur us to get into the final,' he said.

With Ganguly's culture-first approach firmly in place and a settled squad, the Capitals will be looking to go one better in Season 5 and convert their final appearance into a title.