India, Jan. 10 -- Unlike most South African summers, there were no international fixtures scheduled for the festive season this year. A gap in the current FTP, finalised in 2022, meant the SA20, only three years into the cricketing calendar, was handed its biggest responsibility yet.

The ongoing fourth season delivered several firsts: its maiden Super Over, a first-ever hat-trick, high-scoring thrillers, tight finishes and a noticeable rise in spectator turnout. However, the shift from its familiar January-February window to a Boxing Day start also brought challenges, with unseasonal rain across parts of the country leading to five matches being abandoned without a result.

Yet, the weather disruptions did little to stall the league's mo...