Champions Trophy: South Africa's strongest starting playing XI

South Africa is unlucky not to have won any ICC trophy in the last couple of years. They have qualified for the final across all levels only to end as the runners-up. They are on the hunt for yet another trophy as they have named a strong squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy. However, they have suffered from injuries to a few of their key players as well. But even then, South Africa looks like a strong contender to win the tournament as they face Australia, England, and Afghanistan in the group stage. Here’s their strongest playing XI:

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Even with injuries, South Africa looks set with their playing XI as skipper Temba Bavuma will open with Tony de Zorzi. Though they haven’t played much together in recent times with the captain sitting out due to injury, the duo will be expected to come good in the showpiece event.

South Africa’s massive strength in the line-up is its middle-order which comprises Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen. Van der Dussen is a proper ODI player having scored 2464 runs in 68 matches so far with six tons and 14 fifties. Markram prefers playing the anchor role while Klaasen is known to attack the bowlers.

Veteran David Miller will bat at number six and is the finisher in the team alongside all-rounder Marco Jansen who takes the new ball as well. Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi are expected to be the other two fast bowlers in South Africa’s playing XI unless they opt for Wiaan Mulder to add depth to their batting.

Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj will be the two spinners in their line-up unless they decide to pick an extra fast bowler at the expense of one of them. For the unversed, South Africa will begin their campaign in the Champions Trophy against Afghanistan on February 21 at the National Stadium in Karachi.

South Africa’s strongest playing XI for the Champions Trophy: Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (C), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi.

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