South Africa T20 World Cup Preview: Perennial chokers out to shed infamous tag

Another year, another major tournament is right upon us. South Africa will begin their long-drawn quest for a major global trophy, one that has eluded them for over a quarter of a century. Such has been their plight that the tag ‘perennial chokers’ is synonymous with the Proteas.

This time though, they will be led by Aiden Markram, who has tasted success at the youth level when he led his nation to the U-19 World Cup title a decade ago.

South Africa undoubtedly possess one of the strongest squads in world cricket with the experiences of Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Reeza Hendricks on the batting front.

Their bowling department too boast of some explosive pace in Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Gerald Coetzee with spin support from Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi and Bjorn Fortuin.

However, they appear to be lacking in the all-rounder department and have only one in Marco Jansen, who excels more with the leather than the willow.

South Africa is coming into the tournament having not won a bilateral T20I series since August 2022. They are also among the only major nations to have never reached the final of the tournament; having twice suffered semi-final exits (2009 & 2014).

The Proteas find themselves part of a tough group D which has full member nations in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka apart from Nepal and the Netherlands.

Can Markram harness his experience of winning the 2014 U-19 World Cup and end their long wait for a first World Cup glory?

South Africa squad for T20 World Cup 2024

Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs.

Travelling reserves: Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi

South Africa predicted playing XI

Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi

South Africa team schedule for T20 World Cup 2024

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, June 3, 8:00 PM IST
South Africa vs Netherlands, June 7, 8:00 PM IST
South Africa vs Bangladesh, June 10, 8:00 PM IST
South Africa vs Nepal, June 15, 5:00 AM IST

Strength

• Explosive batting line-up

Weaknesses

• No batting all-rounder in the squad
• Weight of history which gives them the ‘chokers’ tag