Who is Janco Smit? 5 interesting facts about Joburg Super Kings pacer currently playing SA20 2025-26

Joburg Super Kings (JSK) pacer Janco Smit had fans' undivided attention when he dismissed T20 superstar Dewald Brevis in the second game of the ongoing 2025-26 SA20. The dismissal had the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) community turn around and take note of the young seamer.

Smit was slightly expensive with figures of 1/37 in four overs, but his scalp of Brevis for six played a crucial role in JSK's 22-run win to kickstart their campaign. It was only the former's SA20 debut, yet one that garnered enough curiosity among fans around the world.

While Smit is yet to play much cricket elsewhere, including the IPL, his stocks potentially rose based on the optics from his SA20 debut. All eyes will be on the right-arm seamer with JSK set to play their second game of the tournament against the Durban Super Giants (DSG) tonight.

On that note, let us discover five interesting facts about JSK's newest pacer, Janco Smit.

#1 Janco Smit had played only one other high-level T20 game before his SA20 debut

Before his above-mentioned SA20 debut, Janco Smit had played only one other high-level T20 game of note. It came in the recent CSA T20 challenge, where he represented the Titans in a clash against Boland.

Unfortunately for the pacer, the outing was anything but memorable as he was carted around for 30 runs off his two overs. The youngster also endured a forgettable stay with the bat, failing to get off the mark in three deliveries at the crease.

All of this culminated in a dismal seven-wicket loss for the Titans, resulting in Smit getting no gametime the rest of the tournament.

#2 Breakthrough moment a fortnight before SA20 debut

In a still-young cricketing career, Janco Smit enjoyed his best performance a fortnight before his SA20 debut. Playing for the Titans in the CSA 4-day series Division 1 against the Dolphis earlier in the month, the young pacer produced a terrific all-round showing.

Smit picked up three wickets in the first innings to help shut the Dolphins out for a paltry 125. He then added a valuable 17 with the bat at No.11 to propel the Titans to a respectable 255 in their first essay.

Smit continued his onslaught on the Dolphins with a four-wicket haul, including the top three of the opposition, in a mere 7.5 overs. His heroics helped bowl the Dolphins out for 200 in their second innings as the Titans completed a nine-wicket victory.

#3 Maximum results in limited opportunities in his maiden first-class career

Despite being a relatively unknown commodity before the ongoing South African domestic season, Janco Smit impressed in his limited opportunities in the 2024/25 season. In his maiden first-class outing in the 2024/25 CSA 4-day series Division 1 against Boland, the young seamer looked the part throughout.

Smit picked up South African international Pieter Malan on 118, to go along with two other wickets, in his figures of 3/54 in 18 overs. He followed that up with another three-wicket haul in his only other red-ball game of the season, dismissing another centurion and South African international Zubayr Hamza in the process.

Smit boasts impressive first-class numbers, picking up 18 wickets in six games at an average of 25.38.

#4 Janco Smit's dubious win-loss record before SA 20 debut

JSK's victory to kickstart their 2025/26 SA20 must have come as a massive relief to Janco Smit, given his win-loss record prior. Despite impressing in most of his seven domestic games before the SA20, the youngster had tasted team success only once.

Despite the back-to-back three-wicket hauls in his two appearances last first-class season, the Titans could only walk away with a draw on both occasions. The 2025/26 red-ball season was even worse, with Titans losing three on the bounce despite Smit's reasonable showings.

Titans also lost the lone CSA T20 Challenge match Smith played in against Boland, making it a winless streak of six games to start his high-level domestic career. However, the stellar all-round showing against the Dolphins in his latest first-class match, followed by JSK's victory in their tournament opener, means Smit is now on a two-game winning streak.

#5 The schooling connection with several South African legends

Janco Smit is another product of the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool in Pretoria, renowned for producing several South African stars. Most notable are the legendary duo of AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis, two former captains of the Proteas.

Others, including current South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder and the talented Dewald Brevis, also come from the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool. Former New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner also comes from the same school, making Smith the next addition to a rich tapestry of names from the school.

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Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran