The story remains the same for South Africa as another World Cup approaches. They have a talented group of players, full of potential. However, despite their abilities, it’s hard to truly fear a team with a history of falling apart when it matters most. Take the previous T20 World Cup in 2022, for example. South Africa needed just one more win to reach the semi-finals but ended up losing to the Netherlands in a major upset, a collapse that was disappointing even by their own standards.

This pattern of underperformance isn’t new for South Africa. In the 2021 T20 World Cup, they were eliminated on net run rate, taking too long to chase a target of 85. Back in 2012, three costly sixes from Umar Gul led to their downfall. In 2007, while chasing 154 against India, they were restricted to 116, falling short of the qualification mark by 10 runs. These examples highlight a recurring issue: no matter how strong the team appears, they often struggle to deliver when the stakes are high.

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What can win them the trophy?

South Africa boasts a powerful lineup of batters, including David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Tristan Stubbs, Aiden Markram, and Quinton de Kock, each having scored over 1,000 T20 runs globally since 2023. These players will be the core of the team, earning South Africa the dark horse tag for the upcoming World Cup. There’s always a first time for everything, and the Rainbow Nation hopes that this will finally be the tournament where a South African cricket team performs to its full potential from start to finish.

However, numerous past heartbreaks have eroded confidence in the team’s ability to deliver when it counts. This creates the biggest paradox in South African cricket: whether to hold on to hope or to brace for another letdown. Despite the immense talent and promise, the weight of history makes it hard to fully believe in a different outcome.

South Africa’s middle order is formidable, featuring Klaasen at four, Miller at five, and Stubbs at six. These batters excel against both pace and spin. Heinrich Klaasen has been among the top T20 batters since 2023, scoring more runs than any other middle-order player and boasting the highest strike rate. His performance against spin has been outstanding, with 800 runs at an average of 53.3 and a strike rate of 190.5. Tristan Stubbs has also been impressive, amassing 737 runs this season with an average of 52.6 and a strike rate of 174.2.

Notably, 66% of his runs have come in the death overs, where he strikes at 225.6, making him the most prolific death-overs batter in the recently concluded IPL 2024. Although David Miller’s numbers are more modest (average 28.8, strike rate 133.5), he remains a dynamic T20 player. As a left-hander, Miller adds the valuable left-hand-right-hand combination to the trio.

On good batting pitches, South Africa’s middle order can elevate the team to towering scores. They are also capable of handling the most complete spin attacks on slower tracks. Even above them, South Africa boasts established players like Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, and Aiden Markram. As demonstrated in the 50-over World Cup last year, South Africa has the ability to bat the opposition out of the game in favorable batting conditions. This powerful lineup gives them the potential to dominate matches and make a deep run in the upcoming World Cup.

South Africa’s top seven players are straightforward selections. They have the flexibility to field three spinners by adding wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi alongside finger spinners Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram. Alternatively, they can opt for a pace-heavy attack by including bowlers like Gerald Coetzee or Junior Dala. With three of their four group games scheduled to be played in New York, where conditions are uncertain, it will be crucial for them to quickly assess and adapt to the playing environment. This versatility in their lineup gives South Africa multiple strategic options depending on the conditions they encounter.