South Africa Predicted Playing 11 vs India for the 2024 T20 World Cup Final
South Africa will lock horns with India in the grand final of the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados on Saturday, June 29. The Proteas haven't been at their best in the competition so far but are still unbeaten and have everything to play for.
Aiden Markram and Co. have adopted a similar approach to that of India in the tournament. They fielded an extra pacer for the USA leg before resorting to a three-pacer, three-spinner combination in the West Indies.
Having had a settled XI throughout the competition, South Africa aren't primed to make any unnecessary changes.
South Africa's squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: 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.
On that note, here is South Africa's predicted playing XI for their 2024 T20 World Cup final clash against India.
Openers: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk)
Reeza Hendricks chipped in with a cameo in the semifinal against Afghanistan, but he hasn't had a great T20 World Cup. While India will be keen on dismissing him early, keeping him at the crease might not be the worst outcome.
Quinton de Kock has been in dangerous form throughout the competition and has given his team a few rapid starts in the powerplay. Without an off-spinner to be shackled by, De Kock could be in line for a big knock against one of his favorite oppositions.
Middle Order: Aiden Markram (c), David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen
Captain Aiden Markram hasn't been in the best of nick at the T20 World Cup, but he's no stranger to scoring big hundreds in tournament finals. The star batter will be itching to deliver in Barbados.
The rest of South Africa's middle order is packed with dangerous hitters of the cricket ball. Heinrich Klaasen will be key against Kuldeep Yadav and the left-arm spinners, while David Miller and Tristan Stubbs will need to chip in as well.
Marco Jansen hasn't had much batting to do, but he will be of vital importance with the new ball against Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Lower Order: Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi
Ottneil Baartman is expected to miss out once again, although there is a case for South Africa to play him ahead of Tabraiz Shamsi, whose control has been disappointing at times.
Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje will lead the pace attack, with Keshav Maharaj serving as the frontline spin option ahead of Shamsi, who will need to be on point with his lines and lengths in the middle overs.