Credit: ICC
South Africa Cricket have announced their 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. Aiden Markram will lead the team in the upcoming tournament, hoping to go all the way after they were the runners up in 2024.
The big surprise comes in the batting department with both Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton dropped. They have picked 19-year-old left arm pacer Kwena Maphaka and Keshav Maharaj as part of their bowling arsenal. Premier pacer Kagiso Rabada makes a return to the squad while Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje have also been picked.
Aiden Markram, De Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Jason Smith, David Miller, and Donovan Ferreira make up a strong batting lineup, whereas Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Marco Jansen, Nortje, Lungi Ngidi and Corbin Bosch make up a strong pace attack.
Keshav Maharaj and George Linde are the spinners in the squad while Markram and Ferreira can also bowl some off-spin. The team has a good balance of youth and experience, with as many as 7 players getting maiden World Cup calls. Reeza Hendricks, Ottneil Baartman and Lutho Sipamla have been left out from the group that toured India last month.
South African head coach Shukri Conrad believes recent exposure to subcontinent conditions will work in South Africa’s favour. “We are returning to the subcontinent, where we recently competed against hosts India. The experience we gained playing in those conditions will undoubtedly benefit us as we head into this tournament,” Conrad said.
South Africa have one more T20I series against the West Indies before they depart for the World Cup and that will provide them good practice ahead of the main event. South Africa are drawn in Group D alongside Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates, and will begin their campaign on 09 February against Canada in Ahmedabad. The 2026 T20 World Cup will begin on 7 February, and will conclude on 8 March.
South Africa T20 World Cup Squad
Aiden Markram(c), Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje
