Under Ganguly's guidance, the Capitals bounced back from successive fifth-place finishing to reach the SA20 final.
Pretoria Capitals captain Keshav Maharaj has credited head coach Sourav Ganguly with transforming the franchise's team culture and environment.
The former India captain took charge as the head coach for the SA20 2025-26 season. Under his guidance, the Capitals bounced back from successive fifth-place finishing to reach the tournament's final.
Maharaj highlighted how Ganguly helped the team build tight personal connections. Players bonded in the team room, shared meals, watched global cricket matches together, as the coach established a strong "buzz and energy" throughout the campaign.
“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 in a release.
“We had a lot of guys that bought into what we tried to achieve. Often during the competition, when we weren’t playing, we’d get in the team room, have dinner together, watch other games and chat cricket. There was a real buzz and energy within the camp, which was a privilege to be a part of.
Maharaj hoped the special environment built in the first season will last for a long time. “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,” he added.
Sourav Ganguly took up his first-ever head coaching assignment when he was appointed the head coach of the Pretoria Capitals last year. He also served as a mentor and Director of Cricket for the Delhi Capitals across two separate stints.
The next SA20 edition will get underway on January 17, 2027, featuring defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape versus the Pretoria Capitals at St George's Park in Gqeberha.
“It’s always going to be the case to the public (revenge), but I think it’s just about putting our best foot forward,” Maharaj said.
“We know it’s always important to start the competition really well, and to do it against the defending champions would be a nice step in the right direction towards the new season."