After MI Cape Town completed a remarkable comeback after being basement dwellers to champions at the third time of asking, sweeping former double champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape aside in the final in a manner befitting the new kings, coach Robin Peterson believes this was payback for the die-hards who stuck with the franchise through the difficult times.

“I think every time you're involved with Mumbai Indians, you are expected to win,” Peterson said after the 76-run victory over Sunrisers at the Wanderers.

“It's no different here, even though the first two years we did try our best, things didn't work out. Bringing Rash back, getting Boulty here and a couple of new additions definitely made the difference.

“Not only in the dressing room but on the field as well with their experience. Just a couple of fresh faces, it's amazing how it changed the environment a little bit.

“There's always pressure when you're with MI, it's a proud franchise. But the one thing I have to say is that they do back us quite a bit. That backing and allowing us to give it another crack, we've got to be thankful to the owners and the management above us.”

The turnaround was even more remarkable due to the fact MI Cape Town had lost England Test captain and double white-ball World Cup winner Ben Stokes to injury before a ball had been bowled in season 3.

Peterson, though, showed during this successful campaign that he would not be reliant on overseas superstars and backed his local players instead.

MI Cape Town utilised their full quota of four overseas players allowed in the starting XI only on one occasion against the Pretoria Capitals at Centurion, while only the services of captain Rashid Khan and opening bowler Trent Boult were required in the Wanderers final.

“It was just about balancing the team, what skill sets we need,” Peterson said.

“It was not as if we planned it, it just happened by design basically.

“I think the local players we brought in are internationals too. People often forget that. It made it a little bit easier.”

A standout feature of MI Cape Town’s championship-winning campaign was the form of opening combination both with bat and ball with Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen leading the charge with the willow before Kagiso Rabada and Trent Boult would take over with the ball.

However, the blossoming of protege Dewald Brevis, who won the Rising Star Award, was also special to behold along with last season’s rookie Connor Esterhuizen’s growing maturity.

Brevis (38) and Esterhuizen (39) top-scored in the final for MI Cape Town and put together a match-winning partnership of 50 runs off just 30 balls for the fifth wicket.

“I mean, all the South African boys started the journey last year with Ricks and Rassi at the top, laying the foundation with the bat,” Peterson said.

“It's also great to see Brevis' evolution over the last two years and coming into this tournament and making it his own. I thought he played fantastically well.

“And then at the back end you saw what Connor Estherhuizen has and can do, the rookie we picked last year. So for both of them to play in a final on a big occasion is really a thrill for the franchise and just the faith we want to show in young players over here. So it was great to see the local boys stepping up alongside some really quality international players which we brought in.”