The Dolphins were originally created as an entirely professional franchise team after the South African domestic format was restructured in 2004-05.

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).

Former Dolphins cricketers include Proteas players Shaun Pollock, Jonty Rhodes, Pat Symcox, Lance Klusener, Andrew Hudson, Errol Stewart, Dale Benkenstein, Imraan Khan, Morné van Wyk, Dane Vilas and Mthokozisi Shezi.

[4] International players to play for the Dolphins include Malcolm Marshall, Collis King, Hartley Alleyne, Nixon McLean, Eldine Baptiste, Neil Johnson, Sanath Jayasuriya,[5] Ravi Bopara, Graham Onions and Kevin Pietersen.

Current Proteas cricketers in the Dolphins squad include Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Imran Tahir, Andile Phehlukwayo, Robert Frylinck, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Khaya Zondo, Senuran Muthusamy and Daryn Dupavillon.