South Africa are coming into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with a disappointing performance in the Tri-Series hosted by Pakistan. Temba Bavuma and co. lost both their matches at the hands of Pakistan and New Zealand.
They need a strong start in this campaign and would be looking to get the better off Afghanistan in Karachi on 21st February 2025 in their campaign-opener. South Africa love playing the Champions Trophy and were the champions of the inaugural edition of this tournament in 1998.
South Africa had qualified to the semi-finals of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 and have a balanced side.
In this article, we take a look at the strongest playing XI of South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025:
Openers: Tony de Zorzi and Temba Bavuma
Another opening combination in the tournament that defines class is Tony de Zorzi and Temba Bavuma. With a proper mix of youth and experience, the openers of South Africa would be hoping to maximize the powerplay in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Temba Bavuma scored 102 runs in the Tri-Series in Pakistan and finished as the second-highest run-getter of South Africa.
Top-Order: Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller
With plenty of experience in their batting department, South Africa would be banking themselves to post big totals. Rassie van der Dussen had amassed 448 runs in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 and Aiden Markram had scored 406 runs.
David Miller is known for flexing his dominant muscles and scoring some big runs in the tournament.
Middle-Order: Heinrich Klaasen, Tristan Stubbs
With power-packed batters Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs as the finishers, South Africa have a well-rounded batting department, that can inflict damage on to the opposition with considerable ease and perfection.
Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Tabraiz Shamsi and Corbin Bosch
With 17 wickets in his kitty in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 in India, Marco Jansen had left an imprint in the tournament. He is touted to once again shine with the white-cherry. Jansen also topped the bowling charts in the recently-concluded SA20 2025 league and bagged 19 wickets in the tournament.
Corbin Bosch had taken 11 wickets in 8 games and will be another player to watch out for. Kagiso Rabada has oodles of experience and had taken 13 wickets in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
South Africa’s Strongest Playing XI in ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Kagiso Rabada, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi
