Last Updated on 1 year ago by Charbel Coorey
South Africa squad for 2025 Champions Trophy: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen
South Africa in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup
- Matches played: 14
- Matches won: 4
- Matches lost: 10
- W/L ratio – 0.400
- Batting run rate – 5.35
Most runs for South Africa in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup:
- Tony de Zorzi (LHB): 423 runs, AVG: 42.30, SR: 95.27, 100s: 1, 50s: 1
- Heinrich Klaasen (RHB): 378 runs, AVG: 63.00, SR: 125.58, 100s: 0, 50s: 4
- Tristan Stubbs (RHB): 243 runs, AVG: 48.60, SR: 91.01, 100s: 1, 50s: 1
Most wickets for South Africa in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup:
- Lizaad Williams (right-arm pace): 13 wickets, AVG: 18.76, ECO: 5.54
- Bjorn Fortuin (left-arm spin): 10 wickets, AVG: 31.80, ECO: 4.58
- Lungi Ngidi (right-arm pace): 9 wickets, AVG: 38.77, ECO: 6.01
Since the 2023 World Cup, South Africa have the (joint) worst record of all the teams participating in the Champions Trophy. They enter the tournament on the back of six consecutive losses, but much of this is attributed to league matches and being unable to field a full-strength ODI side.
“I know they’ll shine through when it comes to these world events, these marquee events. The guys tend to step up. They tend to bring their best cricket,” said white-ball coach Rob Walter at the Wanderers after suffering a 3-0 series loss against Pakistan. “We’ve seen that for two World Cups in a row.”
“The reality is the lead up into the Champions Trophy won’t be anything, like the lead up to the World Cup. That’s the reality of the way the schedule is stacked up. But at the end of the day, I’ve just got to trust in the quality of the players,” he said. “Obviously, the switching in codes will potentially pose a little bit of a challenge to us. But again, it’s not like the guys have not played 50-over cricket. So, I trust that when the time comes, we’ll be there.”
South Africa SWOT Analysis for the 2025 Champions Trophy: Will the Proteas turn around their poor run of form in ODIs?
Top-Order Conundrum
South Africa will be without Quinton de Kock, who retired from ODIs after the 2023 World Cup, at an ICC event for the first time since 2014. They have yet to settle on an opening partner for skipper Temba Bavuma but aren’t bereft of options, with Tony de Zorzi and in-form Ryan Rickelton competing for the spot. If needed, Aiden Markram could also be promoted to the top of the order.
In any case, Rassie van der Dussen will bat at No. 3. “Rassie has been a stalwart at No. 3, so we’re hesitant to change his position given the way he’s contributed there,” said Walter. However, while he appeared in decent touch in the recently concluded SA20, his ODI record since the start of the World Cup is somewhat concerning: 590 runs across 19 innings at an average of 32.77 and a strike rate of 78.98.
A Power-Packed Middle-Order
South Africa boasts a middle order so strong that a player of Tristan Stubbs’ calibre – who would start for most other teams – may miss out. Aiden Markram will occupy the No. 4 spot and play fulcrum alongside van der Dussen for the side. He will be followed by the powerful duo of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller, forming what is arguably the world’s most destructive ODI middle order.
Klaasen, in particular, is enjoying some of the best form of his career. He has notched up four 80+ scores in his last four innings. Since the start of 2023, he averages 53.25 at a strike rate of 137.56 in ODIs. In overs 31-50, his strike rate soars to 165.48, second only to Glenn Maxwell’s 168.63 (min. 200 balls faced).
His partner-in-crime, Miller, isn’t too far behind, with 595 runs at a strike rate of 130.20 in overs 31-50 in ODIs since 2023.
Seam-bowling all-rounders Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, and Corbin Bosch provide additional depth to the lineup.
Proteas’ Bowling Arsenal: Seam and Spin Depth
South Africa will have five frontline seamers – Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, and Wiaan Mulder – at their disposal. Bosch, who can bowl express pace and is a handy lower-order batter, was named as the replacement for the injured Anrich Nortje after his standout performances for MI Cape Town in their championship-winning campaign.
While Rabada and Jansen form a formidable new-ball pair, expect Mulder to start in the XI at No. 7 as the third seamer, thanks to his improved batting over the last 15-18 months.
Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi will spearhead the spin attack, with the former, in particular, evolving as a bowler in recent years. During the 2023 World Cup, he even reached the summit of the Men’s ODI bowling rankings, and he will once again play a key role for the Proteas in a tournament in Asia. Markram will serve as the sixth bowler with his part-time off-spin.
While South Africa’s Powerplay bowling looks sorted, middle-overs pace and slog-overs may pose concerns. Bosch, though capable of clocking high pace and pushing batters onto the backfoot, struggles with control at this stage of his career, a challenge shared by Mulder as well.
South Africa Predicted XI for the 2025 Champions Trophy
1. Temba Bavuma (c), 2. Tony de Zorzi/Ryan Rickelton, 3. Rassie van der Dussen, 4. Aiden Markram, 5. Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6. David Miller, 7. Marco Jansen, 8. Wiaan Mulder, 9. Corbin Bosch/Tabraiz Shamsi, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Keshav Maharaj
South Africa SWOT Analysis
Strengths:
- Unmatched middle-order firepower, particularly Heinrich Klaasen
- Destructive slog-overs batting
- Excellent depth in batting with Jansen potentially at No.8
- Wicket-taking new-ball duo in Rabada and Jansen
Weaknesses:
- Lack of a reliable middle-overs enforcer in the absence of Nortje and Coetzee
- Death-bowling concerns
- Top-order instability and Powerplay run-scoring post-de Kock
Opportunities:
- Clinch the trophy, erase the ‘C’ tag, and rewrite legacy
- Capitalise on the form of some of their key players
Threats:
- Bowling unit could struggle if Jansen-Rabada fail to strike up front
- Limited ODI game time for several players
- Psychological baggage of crumbling under pressure in ICC tournaments
Written by Sparsh Telang. Follow on X on @_cricketsparsh
