T20 World Cup 2021: South Africa's strongest predicted playing XI for the tournament

South Africa have been that team that has looked perhaps the strongest team on paper on multiple occasions but have failed to win any ICC tournament. To be very honest, luck hasn’t been on their side quite often. From losing a tied semi-final in the 1999 WC and rain playing the spoilsport twice – 1992 WC semi-final & 2015 WC semi-final, they have had matches which are too difficult to be able to erase from the memories of the Protea fans. One of the best bowling attacks in this year’s T20 World Cup, South Africa, under the newly appointed captain Temba Bavuma, are in red hot form as they defeated the mighty West Indies 3-2 & thrashed Ireland 3-0, both series away from home. They would look to maintain this winning momentum ahead of the tournament which will provide them with the much-needed confidence. With stronger teams like Australia, England, and West Indies in their group, South Africa will have to be at the top of their game to qualify for the semi-finals and go on to win their first-ever ICC Trophy. So let’s look at their strongest predicted playing 11 for the tournament which can challenge & win against the best in the world. South Africa’s strongest predicted playing XI for T20 WC 1. Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper) Quinton de Kock. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images) The best South African batsman & probably the best keeper-batsman in the world, Quinton de Kock is the man to watch out for in this year’s T20 WC. He may look like a teenager, but he surely is an assassin with the bat as well as with the gloves behind the stumps. He is in sublime form scoring 50+ scores in 6 successive innings at the international level, which is a great sign for South African cricket. He has scored 1605 runs in 54 matches at an average of 32.76 & strike rate just above 138. After declining captaincy of South Africa, he would be eager to show his worth as a player in big tournaments & be the man his country requires him to be to be able to lift the T20 WC. The equation is absolutely simple, de Kock has to fire with the bat if South Africa want to qualify for the semi-finals of the WC. 2. Aiden Markram CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 16: Aiden Markram of South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images) A young prodigy who shot through the ranks, Aiden Markram is a flamboyant stroke-maker who rose to fame at an early age as he led South Africa to victory in the U-19 WC in 2014. He was South Africa’s highest run-scorer in the tournament as well. He has had a short yet impressive T20I career. He has played 12 matches and scored 357 runs at an average of 32.45 & at a strike rate over 150. That’s exactly the kind of opening South Africa will need from him. He is an electric fielder, especially at point. He also can chip in with one or two quite overs of off-spin which is instrumental in the balance of the team. With age on his side and so far an impressive international career, he is a potential captain who has the skill to take the Proteas to greater heights in international cricket. For that, he will be eager to play fearlessly in the T20 WC. 3. Temba Bavuma (captain) Temba Bavuma. (Photo Source: Twitter) A not so intimidating figure on the field on the basis of his appearance, Temba Bavuma’s journey to international cricket hasn’t been the smoothest. He has been in & out of the squad quite often as he was playing in the golden era of South African cricket in terms of batting. The 31-year-old has a decent record in T20Is. He has played 16 matches and scored 410 runs at an average of 27.33 and strike rate just below 127. These are numbers which he would like to improve big time. He is a live wire on the field and probably one of the quickest across the turf in world cricket at the moment. Due to his grit and experience, he has been given the captaincy for ODIs as well as T20Is. He would be raring to go and prove his worth and faith that the selectors have shown & lead from the front at the crucial number 3 spot. 4. Faf du Plessis CARDIFF, WALES – MAY 24: Faf du Plessis of South Africa. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) Faf Du Plessis is the most consistent & experienced Protea batsman in this batting line-up. The former Proteas captain has retired from Test cricket and made it clear to the public that his focus is on the two consecutive T20 WCs. Hence, he has started playing in different T20 leagues around the world. He has played 50 T20Is and scored 1528 runs at an average of 35.53 and a strike rate of 134.39. He was also the first Protea to cross the triple-figure in T20Is. He scored 119 runs off 56 balls at a strike rate of 212.50, smashing 11 fours and 5 huge sixes vs West Indies in Johannesburg in 2015. South Africa put on a massive 231 on the board but eventually lost the match. Along with his batting, he is one of the best fielders in world cricket and has taken many pressure catches. A proven performer in the IPL as well, Du Plessis will look to get back in form for the Chennai Super Kings and try to carry this form in the T20 WC & look to guide the Proteas throughout the tournament with his calm nature and plethora of experience. 5. Rassie van der Dussen Rassie van der Dussena. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) One of the players who got the opportunity to wear the national colors after scoring tons of runs consistently at the first-class level, Rassie van der Dussen made his debut at the age of 30. Ever since he has been the fulcrum of the Protea middle order and is in no mood to let go of his hard-earned place in the national squad. He has played 27 T20Is and scored 756 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate just below 135. Batting at number 5, he would like to maintain this consistency and improve his strike rate up a notch. Though he isn’t a big hitter of the cricket ball, he is a clever batsman and manages to find gaps frequently. Number 5 is an important role as that batsman generally comes in the 12-13th over and has to play smartly as he can’t let the finisher come to the crease with 7-8 overs to spare. Rassie van der Dussen is the perfect man for this role due to his abundant experience at the first-class level and he will look to be the perfect foil for Faf du Plessis and David Miller. 6. David Miller David Miller. (Photo Source: Getty Images) If you have seen David Miller batting in South Africa or when he is on the song, you just know the havoc he can create and damage the opposition’s confidence with his clean & consistent six-hitting. He is the perfect batsman for the finisher’s role for South Africa. He is the most capped Protea in T20Is with 89 matches in his kitty. He is also the 2nd highest run-scorer for South Africa in T20Is, scoring 1716 runs at an average of 31.78 and a strike rate of over 140. He is probably the best fielder in the squad and always is in high-traffic positions trying to take some blinders. Killer Miller is probably the most dangerous batsman in this lineup and can also be sent up the order to continue the momentum if the top order fires. He is an asset to any team and will look to smash some sixes outside the stadium and onto the roads, which is quite possible if he gets going in the T20 WC. 7. George Linde George Linde. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) A name not many of you might have heard, George Linde is one player which isn’t on the radar of teams but provides the much-needed balance to this Protea T20 squad. He is a left-arm spinner who can bowl with the new ball in the powerplay as well. He is a handy batsman who can chip in some crucial runs at the end. The 29-year-old has played 14 T20Is and has taken 15 wickets at an economy just above 7 which is quite decent for a spinner who bowls frequently in the powerplay. He has also scored 111 runs at an average of 11.1 and a strike rate of 130.59. Due to the 2nd phase of IPL being held in the UAE just before the T20 WC, the pitches might wear out which will, in turn, provide assistance to the spinners. Linde might turn from the least important man to the most important man in oppositions’ team meetings. 8. Kagiso Rabada Kagiso Rabada. (Photo Source: Twitter) The Protea bowling attack will be led by one of the best fast bowlers in the world & undoubtedly South Africa’s best fast bowler currently, Kagiso Rabada. He is one bowler whose 4 overs can make or break the game for the Proteas, a weapon that Bavuma will have to use to its full potential. He has played 32 T20Is and taken 39 wickets at an economy of 8.61. Rabada would be disappointed with his bowling economy stats and would look to improve it. But it is because he bowls the toughest overs of the game and is brought into the attack by the captain to take a wicket. He was the purple cap holder of last year’s IPL & has been Delhi Capitals’ highest wicket-taker for 3 consecutive seasons. He is one of the major reasons why the Delhi Capitals have become the team to beat in this year’s IPL. He will look to unleash himself at the opposition in the UAE throughout the IPL as well as the T20 WC. 9. Anrich Nortje Anrich Nortje. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images) One of the fastest bowlers in the world, Anrich Nortje’s brute pace can be a nightmare for any batsman in the world. Only a handful of bowlers can consistently bowl at speeds greater than 150 km/h & the 27-year-old is one of those. He is a bowler who bowls stump to stump and is a true example of the cricketing proverb, “you miss I hit.” He came back into the national team after having a fantastic IPL 2020 season with the Delhi Capitals. He along with Kagiso Rabada, his fellow Protea speedster were absolutely lethal together and picked up a total of 52 wickets. They led the bowling attack and added the much-needed muscle in the team which was a massive factor in them ending as the runners-up of the season. Nortje has had a short T20I career as he has played merely 9 matches and taken 7 wickets at an economy of 7.67. If Rabada and Nortje managed to pull off what they did in the last IPL in UAE, there is no stopping South Africa from qualifying to the WC semi-finals. 10. Lungi Ngidi Lungi Ngidi. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images) A tall, well-built man, Lungi Ngidi along with Kagiso Rabada have been the only 2 bowlers who have cemented their spot by performing in all formats of international cricket for 3 years. However, due to injuries, he has been in and out of the national squad but manages to come back with a bang. His strength is his ability to bowl constantly at hard lengths and can even swing the ball both ways. He has played 23 T20Is and taken 36 wickets at an average of 19.64 & bowling economy of just below 9. This goes to show that he is a pure wicket-taker but often goes for runs. With a strong bowling unit, Lungi Ngidi should be used differently. He should be given the new ball & his cutters can be effective in the middle overs as well. He goes for runs at the death so let the duo of Rabada-Nortje manage that area. If Bavuma manages to use his bowling attack effectively, South Africa is likely to upset the stronger teams and storm into the semi-finals of the T20 WC. 11. Tabraiz Shamsi Tabraiz Shamsi of South Africa celebrates the dismissal of Shimron Hetmyer of West Indies. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images) The current number 1 ranked T20I bowler in the world, Tabraiz Shamsi has been fantastic over the past few weeks and has been immensely capitalizing on his form. Due to Imran Tahir’s constant presence, he didn’t get many opportunities in the initial stages of his career but after he got a series of opportunities, he has made sure to cement his place in the team. He has played 39 T20Is and taken 45 wickets at an economy just below 6.8 runs per over, an outstanding economy in T20Is, especially for a wrist spinner. This goes to show his game awareness and control he has on his skill. He was the highest wicket-taker for South Africa in the recently concluded tour of West Indies where the Proteas won an enthralling T20I series by 3-2. The West Indian batsmen struggled to take him on in that series. He is a smart bowler as he tosses the ball away from the batsman’s arc which makes it difficult for the batsman to hit sixes. He also has a great googly which is difficult to pick from the hand. If the pitches start to spin in the UAE, don’t be surprised if Shamsi’s name is on the list of the top wicket-takers of this year’s T20 WC.

T20 World Cup 2021: South Africa's strongest predicted playing XI for the tournament

South Africa will try to get over their image of being 'chokers'.

2. Aiden Markram