With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 set to unfold in Pakistan, all eyes are on South Africa’s squad and their strategy for conquering the tournament.
While their batting lineup is always a talking point, the strength and adaptability of their bowling attack will ultimately dictate their success.
The pitches in Pakistan are known to favor spin, making a varied and skillful bowling unit essential.
Here’s a detailed look at three bowlers who will be crucial for South Africa’s campaign:
Kagiso Rabada
As the spearhead of the South African pace attack, Kagiso Rabada’s role is to lead from the front and set the tone.
He’s expected to strike early, disrupting the opposition’s top order and applying pressure from the outset.
Rabada’s experience and ability to perform in high-pressure situations make him a vital asset.
Rabada is known for his express pace, ability to generate bounce, and his knack for taking wickets at crucial moments.
He possesses a well-developed skillset, including a potent yorker and a deceptive slower ball, making him a threat in all phases of the game.
Keshav Maharaj
As an experienced left-arm spinner, Keshav Maharaj will be a key figure in South Africa’s bowling attack, particularly in the expected conditions of Pakistan.
He’s tasked with controlling the middle overs, stifling the opposition’s scoring rate, and providing crucial breakthroughs when needed.
Maharaj is known for his accuracy, economical bowling, and ability to extract turn and bounce from surfaces.
His control and consistency allow him to build pressure on batsmen, forcing them into making mistakes. In his ODI career, Maharaj has taken 55 wickets in 44 matches with an economy rate of 4.56
Marco Jansen
Marco Jansen, a left-arm pace bowling all-rounder, provides variety and depth to the South African bowling attack.
His ability to swing the ball and contribute with the bat makes him a valuable asset in both the powerplay and death overs.
Jansen’s tall stature and ability to generate bounce and inswing make it difficult for batters to score against him.
He can bowl in the powerplay and at the death, offering flexibility to the captain. In his ODI career, he has taken 41 wickets in 26 matches.
