T20 World Cup 2021: Strongest South Africa Predicted Playing XI against Bangladesh

Kagiso Rabada let out a huge roar when he scored a boundary off Sri Lankan pacer Lahiru Kumara to celebrate a memorable win for South Africa in the ongoing T20 World Cup. In another world, the C-word would have started doing the rounds and South Africa would have botched up a modest run-chase. Not this time though as, David Miller and Rabada saw off a nervy run-chase of 143 to keep the hopes alive of the team reaching the top four.

Very few people gave Temba Bavuma-led team a chance of making the semis, but South Africa have played a splendid brand of cricket in the three games so far. The team almost pulled off an improbable victory against Australia before putting on a dominating performance against West Indies. In their last match versus Sri Lanka, the fortunes swung before Miller delivered a knockout punch. Now, the team just needs to take one game at a time.

Next up, South Africa will cross swords against Bangladesh, who are almost out of the T20 World Cup. Bavuma and co cannot ill afford to take the Asian team lightly by any means though.

Here is South Africa’s predicted playing XI against Bangladesh

Openers- Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks

Wicketkeeper batter De Kock and Hendricks both missed out on scoring runs against Sri Lanka. The former was dismissed for 12, while the latter was out for 11. A formidable start upfront with relatively put some less pressure on the middle-order batters.

If De Kock gets going, then Hendricks can drop anchor as he did against West Indies. The batters will look to score briskly in the power play.

Middle-order- Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, David Miller

Skipper Bavuma played a smart knock against Sri Lanka. The right-hand batter scored a crucial 46 and kept his team in the hunt till the very end. He was only happy to take ones and twos and allowed Markram and Miller to go big at the other end. Bavuma played his role perfectly.

Rassie van der Dussen missed, and Markram missed out against Sri Lanka. The duo got to a start but failed to convert it into something substantial.

All-rounder- Dwaine Pretorius

Dwaine Pretorius has looked brilliant with the ball so far. He has stuck to his lines and lengths and not given the batters any freebies whatsoever. He took three wickets in the crucial closing stages against Sri Lanka and gave only 17 runs in his quota of overs.

Bowlers- Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi

The biggest positive for South Africa the bowlers have yet again delivered for the team in three games so far. Tabraiz Shamsi has been the biggest trump card for the side. He has come at a crucial middle stage of the innings and has not given enough runs to the batters. He took three wickets against Sri Lanka and triggered a collapse.

Maharaj has also complimented him well and has kept things tight. The pair of Rabada and Norjte have, as usual, been brilliant. They are hunting in pairs and have not dropped a gear in the power play and death overs.