Dolphins

The Dolphins were originally created as an entirely professional franchise team after the South African domestic format was restructured in 2004-05. Up until then eleven provincial teams, with various small changes, had competed in the Currie Cup since 1893-94. Natal (as the province was then called) was one of the most successful teams in the 20th century provincial era with twenty title wins.

In 1998-99, Natal became KwaZulu-Natal to reflect the political changes that were taking place in the country. The team won one more final title in 2001-02. In 2004-05, the eleven provincial teams were rationalised into six new, entirely professional franchises, in all three formats.

The Dolphins were the only squad that did not merge several other provincial teams to form the new side. In the Franchise-era, the Dolphins won only one outright title, with two others being shared wins. In 2020, domestic cricket in South Africa was restructured and the six former franchise teams were dropped.

In its place was a return to the more traditional two-division league format, with a total of fifteen professional teams competing due to the previously semi-professional provincial cricket being subsumed (effectively becoming Division 2). The former name of KwaZulu-Natal (Coastal) could have returned during this time (KwaZulu-Natal (Inland) was granted first class provincial status in 2009), however the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union decided to maintain the brand recognition from the franchise era, with the new team continuing to be called the Dolphins.