The South African squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy has been announced, with Temba Bavuma leading the team in the tournament. Recently recovered fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje make their return to the squad. The team includes three spinners and five fast bowlers. Under Bavuma’s leadership, South Africa’s Test team reached the final of the World Test Championship, and similar expectations are placed on them for the Champions Trophy. South Africa is placed in Group B alongside Australia, England, and Afghanistan.
Nortje and Ngidi’s Return
Nortje was sidelined last month due to a leg injury, which caused him to miss the ODI series against Pakistan. Ngidi had been out since November last year due to a groin strain and missed ODI series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. South Africa reached the semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they were defeated by Australia. Temba Bavuma had captained the team during that tournament as well.
South Africa’s Group B Matches
South Africa will begin their campaign on February 21 against Afghanistan in Karachi. They will face Australia on February 25 in Rawalpindi, and their final group match will be against England on March 1. Fast bowler Gerald Coetzee, who is struggling with a groin injury, has not been included in the squad. Coetzee had first experienced this injury during the Durban Test against Sri Lanka last year and missed the second Test in Gqeberha and the entire series against Pakistan.
Three Spinners and Five Fast Bowlers in the Squad
In addition, fast bowler Nandre Burger, who is also injured, has been excluded from the squad. The South African Cricket Board has focused on including as many all-rounders as possible, which is why rehabbed Vian Mulder has been added to the team. Mulder had broken his finger during the series against Sri Lanka but recently played in the second Test against Pakistan after receiving clearance from the physiotherapist.
The team will rely on two primary spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, with Aiden Markram providing support. The fast bowling duties will fall to Janssen, Ngidi, Nortje, Rabada, and Mulder.
South Africa Squad for the Champions Trophy:
Temba Bavuma (Captain), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Vian Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen