![Markram and Rabada will feature in SA's strongest XI [Source: Harshbks, Werries_/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1767365090101_Aiden_Markram_Kagiso_Rabada.jpg?type=hq)
Markram and Rabada will feature in SA's strongest XI [Source: Harshbks, Werries_/X.com]
On Friday, South Africa named their squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, as they dropped a bombshell by leaving out one of their mainstays for some time, Tristan Stubbs, while Jason Smith's SA20 blitz has earned him a spot in Aiden Markram's roster for the competition.
Having reached the final of the 2024 edition, followed by the World Test Championship in 2025, the Proteas once again head into the ICC event with high hopes of going deep into the tournament and potentially clinching it for the first time.
The recent international return of Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje has further notably strengthened their team, with the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen retaining their spots. As they head into the competition, with stiff competitors in New Zealand and Afghanistan in their Group D, here's a brief look at their best possible XI for the tournament.
Senior statesmen Markram and de Kock to lead the top-order with de Zorzi
Quinton de Kock coming back into the mix has been a big positive for SA in white-ball cricket. The left-hand batter has added a lot of experience in this top-order to bat alongside skipper Markram.
de Kock's recent scores of 106, 90 and 65 to go with three consecutive ODI fifties in Pakistan since his return have given evidence of the batter still having a lot left in the tank, especially in the sub-continent, where he has played a significant amount of IPL cricket.
Captain Markram slots right alongside the left-hander in his best batting position, with no Ryan Rickleton and Reeza Hendricks in the squad. His off-spin bowling will add an extra dimension to the team, as it did during the 2023 World Cup.
While Tony de Zorzi has only played two T20Is in his career, his recent form in the sub-continent was enough for the selectors to go with him over Stubbs for the big event.
He has shown great adaptability in India and will most likely play an anchor role. He could also compete with Jason Smith, whose inclusion in the middle order would bring Dewald Brevis in the mix to bat at number 3.
Brevis, Miller and Ferreira solidify the middle order
| Criterion | Stats |
| Matches | 17 |
| Runs | 464 |
| Average | 30.93 |
| Strike Rate | 176.42 |
| Highest | 125* |
| 50/100 | 1/1 |
(Dewald Brevis in T20Is in 2025)
Since Dewald Brevis has returned to the national team set-up, he has proven to be a game-changer in the middle-order and has scored the most runs for the Proteas in the format in 2025. With a whopping strike-rate of 176.42 and consistent 30s and 40s, he is a handful floater, whose entry point would be crucial for them to nail on.
He will be followed by the senior left-handed finisher David Miller, who could probably be playing his last T20 World Cup, considering his age (36). His experience of playing in India for a long time would come in handy for this middle-order. Notably, he has also started the SA20 campaign well for the Paarl Royals with a match-winning knock against Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
| Criterion | Stats |
| Innings | 54 |
| Runs | 1153 |
| Average | 28.10 |
| Strike Rate | 180.40 |
| Highest | 66 |
| 50/100 | 1/0 |
(Donavon Ferreira in T20s since 2024)
The top-6 will be capped off by the explosive Donovan Ferreira, who is at the peak of his powers over the last couple of years, as it is evident in the stats above. He has also been a part of the Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals camps in IPL, helping him to get accustomed to the conditions.
Jansen and Linde fill in the all-rounders' spots
After being a batter short hurting their chances in 2024, SA have a couple of capable all-rounders at 7 and 8 who can bat at high strike rates in the back-end of the innings, with Linde having a T20I scoring rate of 140.19 in his short career to go alongside his 28 wickets, as a rather defensive option, who can contain runs with his left-arm orthodox bowling.
Jansen, who had a coming of age 2025, has also only improved his batting with time and looked at home in their recent tour to India, which will boost their confidence heading into the tournament. He can also bowl across phases, providing flexibility to the bowling attack.
Rabada, Nortje and Ngidi to complete the XI as pace-trio
Kagiso Rabada, who was out of the recent tour of India, has returned to full fitness and is back in action in the ongoing SA20 tournament.
His comeback is set to give this bowling line-up a massive boost at the top of the bowling line-up as well as at the death, where his accuracy with the yorkers will come in handy.
Anrich Nortje, on the other hand, has been breathing fire since his return to the setup during the India tour, casually bowling at his usual pace of over 145 and picking crucial wickets at will. He will be a key in holding the bowling line-up together with his economical bowling.
The speedster was also their pick of the bowlers with 15 wickets at an economy of just 5.74. He will be one of the picks who will compete with Keshav Maharaj, according to the team combination they go with.
Lungi Ngidi has massively improved over the past two years in T20 cricket, and his recent success in India, ending as their best bowler in the T20I series, was a good exhibit of his economic bowling and improved wicket-taking ability with the new ball, in particular. He will most likely play all their matches as the second pacer.
Maharaj and Bosch to remain conditional picks
The duo of Keshav Maharaj and Corbin Bosch are good enough to start every game for the Proteas. It will depend on the conditions and team combinations that the team wants to go with, whether they go with an extra spinner, when Maharaj would come in for Nortje, while Bosch will contend with Linde for the number 7/8 spot.
In case they play the knockouts in Colombo, we likely see both Linde and Maharaj feature in the XI, whilst Markram provides an additional spin-bowling option.
South Africa's strongest playing XI for T20 World Cup 2026
Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, George Linde (or Corbin Bosch acc. to pitch), Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje (or Keshav Maharaj acc. to pitch), Lungi Ngidi.
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