On Saturday evening (March 29), Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians (GT vs MI) will face each other in the ninth match of the IPL 2025, which Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad) will host. Now, let's check the Dream11 top captains and vice-captains for the GT vs MI match. 

South Africa has announced its 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, to be held in Pakistan, in May 2025. Temba Bavuma will captain the Proteas, who have combined some of the country's most experienced with youngsters.

Squad:

Batters:

• Temba Bavuma (Captain)
• Aiden Markram
• Tony de Zorzi
• Rassie van der Dussen
• David Miller

Wicket-Keepers:

• Heinrich Klaasen
• Ryan Rickelton
• Tristan Stubbs

ALL rounders:

• Wiaan Mulder
• Marco Jansen

Bowlers:

• Kagiso Rabada
• Tabraiz Shamsi
• Corbin Bosch
• Lungi Ngidi
• Keshav Maharaj

Travelling Reverse:

• Kwena Maphaka

ALSO READ:Ind vs eng 2nd ODI Live Streaming&: Where & How to Watch the Match Online & on TV

South Africa Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Temba Bavuma (C), Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Ryan Rickelton (WK), Tristan Stubbs (WK), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj. Travelling Reserve: Kwena Maphaka.

South Africa is one of the best teams in the tournment.The several contains several experienced players they can perform well in the champions trophy .thry will create best impact in the match. Head coach Rob Walter has expressed his gratitude about his team and also squad has balanced skill,experience 

🚨 𝑱𝑼𝑺𝑻 𝑰𝑵 🚨

Here is South Africa's updated ODI squad for the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy 🇿🇦🤝#TembaBavuma #SouthAfrica #ODIs #ChampionsTrophy #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/LWd9yINy8o

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) February 9, 2025

Key players to watch:

Temba Bavuma – He will be playing a very important role as a leader from the front.
David Miller – A threatening middle-order hitter with the finishing skills.
Kagiso Rabada – A world-class fast bowler who can break any batting lineup.
Marco Jansen - An exciting all-rounder who can make a difference with both bat and ball.

Following a dismal previous edition, Gujarat Titans (GT), led by Shubman Gill, would look to rebound in IPL 2025. GT acquired numerous high-quality players in the big auction, leading to ticking all the boxes. Previously, they kept five players. GT's retention of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rashid Khan, Shahrukh Khan, and Rahul Tewatia was a no-brainer.

Overall, GT is an intriguing team with talented players in its ranks. The Titans are expected to perform well with a strong and seasoned team this season. GT has covered most of its bases, and the 2022 winners appear in good shape. That said, here we look at the major strengths and weakness of the 2025 version of Gujarat Titans.

Gujarat Titans 2025 IPL Squad: Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Sherfane Rutherford, Gerald Coetzee, Glenn Phillips, Sai Kishore, Mahipal Lomror, Karim Janat, Gurnoor Brar, Arshad Khan, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Kumar Kushagra, Nishant Sindhu, Manav Suthar, Anuj Rawat, Kulwant Khejroliya.

2 Strengths:

Sorted and formidable top-order batting

Looking at the GT top-order batting lineup, they have firepower throughout. While Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill are at the top, while the English batter can provide energy, Gill will bring stability. Following these two hitters, Sai Sudharsan can routinely provide for the Titans. GT's consistency and aggression among the top three players can potentially hinder even the best opposition bowlers.

As a result, one should anticipate GT to get off to a solid start more frequently than not. Thus, we can see that the club has ample firepower across the lineup. If their batters click, they will not have to worry about losing momentum across their batting timeline, which can be backed up by their promising middle order with the proper set of batters against the varied opposition. 

Perfect variety of pace bowling options

Several pacers of the revamped side contribute depth, diversity, and dynamism to the Titans' bowling attack. With Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj and Gerald Coetzee, they have their new ball assault in place. Ishant Sharma, with his vast experience, can be pivotal. Aside from a well-organised and strong new ball assault, they have pacers who can be helpful in the death overs. 

Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj will again be the leaders in this situation because they possess a wide range of skills, experience, and reliability. In addition, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, and Kulwant Khejroliya can also provide productive overs in the death overs. In addition, Afghanistan's emerging all-rounder, Karim Janat, adds variety to the ranks, whose medium pace can be utilised to the fullest. 

1 Weakness:

Lack of a reliable finisher or middle-order batter

Gujarat Titans have a solid top order but lack a reliable player who can bolster the middle order and finish the games, as they also play a pivotal role in changing the game's momentum. While Rahul Tewatia has shown promise under pressure, the club still needs a player who can consistently perform in difficult situations. Shahrukh Khan and Anuj Rawat have talent and calibre but has yet to establish as consistent finishers, particularly when chasing high totals or when the top order falters. 

Similarly, Sherfane Rutherford has shown potential in his early international career but has yet to distinguish himself in the IPL format. This lineup gap might be difficult for the Gujarat Titans during crucial times of the forthcoming season.

South Africa and Australia have booked their berth for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final which is scheduled to be held on June 11, 2025, at the Lord's Cricket Ground in the UK. While Australia have already made it to the summit once and conquered it too in the process, it is a grand occasion for South Africa as they look to make their maiden WTC final appearance. 

South Africa exceeded everyone's expectations by enduring a dominating run, both at home and overseas. South African head coach Shukri Conrad's presence helped the team immensely and ever since Bavuma took over the captaincy, South Africa went on a roll winning 10 out of 14 Tests whilst remaining undefeated.

See also: Usman Khawaja Praises Yashasvi Jaiswal After His Great Performance in BGT 2024-25

Rabada threatens Australia ahead of the WTC clash

It goes without saying that the WTC final clash between South Africa and Australia will be an absolute box office. The presence of world-class pacers and in-form batters on both sides will make the summit clash all the more enthralling to watch. 

One of the world's renowned pacers Kagiso Rabada will spearhead South Africa's bowling attack in the upcoming WTC final and has warned Cummins and his men to not take them lightly as they have already beaten them before.

“South Africa vs Australia has always been an intense rivalry. We play hard and they are going to come hard at us, and we know that. But we also know how to beat them.”

Throughout countless generations, the rivalry between South Africa and Australia has always been a closely-contested affair. Australia are currently the defending champions and they will leave no stone unturned to secure their second WTC title on the bounce.

How did the two teams make it to the WTC Final?

South Africa and Australia endured enormous hardship in their quest to fulfill their WTC final aspirations. In some instances, they also rode their luck to prevail during nervy times. But when it mattered the most, both teams gave it their all and brought their A-game to the fore to come on top.

South Africa needed one win against Pakistan to go through but a breezy run chase soon turned out to be a nightmare when they were reduced to 99-8 during the second innings at Centurion. Fortunately, Rabada and Jansen came to their rescue and helped South Africa get over the line by a slim margin of two wickets. 

Australia on the other hand, came on top in the recently concluded Border Gavaskar Trophy series despite being blown away in Perth. They successfully fended off a one-man army spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and clinched the series 3-1 to power themselves to second straight WTC final.

Kagiso Rabada's ascent to the elite 300-wicket club in Test cricket has been nothing short of remarkable. Debuting in 2015 at Mohali against India, Rabada quickly established himself as one of the most fearsome fast bowlers in modern cricket. Over the course of 117 Test matches, he bowled 1977.4 overs, conceding 6,628 runs, and claiming 303 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 3.35. His bowling average stands at an excellent 21.9, with a strike rate of 39.2, underscoring his ability to take wickets at regular intervals. Among his many achievements, Rabada has 15 five-wicket hauls to his name, with a best bowling performance of 7/112.

What sets Rabada apart is the speed at which he reached this milestone, taking fewer matches than many other elite bowlers. His consistent performances across different conditions and against top batting lineups have made him a key asset for South Africa. Whether with the new ball or during long spells, Rabada’s accuracy and pace continue to trouble even the best batsmen in the world. His latest achievement of 303 Test wickets is a testament to his skill, endurance, and relentless pursuit of excellence on the field.

See Also: Does constant role change affect KL Rahul’s batting performance?

A Statistical Breakdown of His 300+ Test Wickets

Kagiso Rabada's entry into the elite 300-wicket club in Test cricket is a testament to his incredible skill and consistency over the years. Since his debut against India in 2015, Rabada has developed into one of the world’s most feared fast bowlers. His ability to adapt to different pitches, opposition, and conditions has allowed him to rack up an impressive 303 wickets in 117 Tests. Notably, his best bowling figure of 7/112 showcases his ability to take wickets in a single innings and put opposition under immense pressure.

When analyzing his performance against various opposition teams, Rabada has been particularly dominant against England, from whom he has taken 66 wickets, the highest against any single nation. India follows closely, with Rabada claiming 55 wickets, reflecting his effectiveness against top-tier batting lineups. Against Australia, he has managed 49 wickets, while Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Bangladesh have also struggled against his relentless pace and precision, with 35, 27, and 24 wickets taken respectively. Even teams like New Zealand and Pakistan have faced difficulties, losing 22 wickets each to Rabada's brilliance, while Zimbabwe has conceded 3 wickets.

Looking at the timeline of Rabada’s career, it is evident that his form has surged since 2021. From June 2021 onwards, Rabada took 100 wickets at an average of 19.09 and a strike rate of 34.2, showcasing his return to peak performance. This includes five five-wicket hauls, illustrating how he has consistently been able to break partnerships and take key wickets. Before this period, his performances from February 2019 to May 2021 showed a slight dip, where he collected 34 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 33.02 and a strike rate of 58.1, with no five-wicket hauls. However, Rabada’s resurgence post-2021 is a clear sign of his adaptability and persistence.

In comparison, during the period leading up to January 2019, Rabada had already established himself as a dominant force, taking 168 wickets in 35 matches at an average of 21.41 and a strike rate of 38.4. During this period, he also achieved 9 five-wicket hauls, showing that even early in his career, Rabada was already performing at an elite level. These early years laid the foundation for what has become a celebrated career, filled with milestones and match-winning performances.

Kagiso Rabada’s journey to 300 wickets is a blend of raw talent, relentless work ethic, and resilience. His ability to continuously evolve and deliver at critical moments has cemented his place among South Africa's greatest bowlers. As he continues his career, Rabada's achievements thus far not only reflect his individual brilliance but also his pivotal role in South African cricket’s fast bowling legacy.

See Also: How Did Amelia Kerr's All-Round Brilliance Propel New Zealand to T20 World Cup Glory?

South African pace sensation Kagiso Rabada made history on Monday, October 21, by becoming the fastest bowler to claim 300 wickets in Test cricket. The 29-year-old achieved the remarkable feat during Day 1 of the first Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka. Rabada clean-bowled Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim, dismissing him for 11 runs, on the fifth ball of the 14th over, marking a monumental milestone in his illustrious career.

Rabada’s feat is especially impressive as he surpassed the previous record held by legendary Pakistani pacer Waqar Younis, who reached 300 wickets in 12,602 deliveries. Rabada needed just 11,817 balls to achieve the same, breaking the record with a quicker strike rate and further cementing his place in cricket history.

Rabada tops the elite list of South African bowlers

In addition to becoming the fastest to 300 wickets globally, Rabada also became the sixth South African bowler to join the prestigious 300-wicket club. The current record for the most Test wickets for South Africa belongs to Dale Steyn, who retired with 439 wickets. Shaun Pollock ranks second with 421 wickets, followed by Makhaya Ntini (390), Allan Donald (330), and Morne Morkel (309). Rabada, who made his Test debut in 2015 against India, has been a key player for the Proteas and continues to dominate with his consistent performances.

See Also: Cheteshwar Pujara gives a timely message to the selectors with a Ranji Trophy hundred

A record-breaking career

What makes Rabada’s achievement even more extraordinary is his impressive strike rate. He is the only bowler in the history of Test cricket to claim 300 wickets with a strike rate of under 40. His precision, speed, and ability to break partnerships have made him a constant threat to opposition teams worldwide. Rabada’s career, which began in 2015, is filled with numerous accolades, and this latest achievement solidifies his place among the all-time greats.

On Monday, July 8th, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced a 16-man squad for the upcoming two-Test series against the West Indies starting on August 7. Experienced batter Temba Bavuma will lead the South African cricket team.

South Africa’s red-ball coach, Shukri Conrad announced the squad for the Tests starting on August 7 in Trinidad. Bavuma will lead the team after missing a game against India earlier this year. Most of the main players, who skipped the New Zealand series due to SA20 commitments are back. Three players from the second string team that played against New Zealand are also retained.

David Bedingham, who is in great form in the County Championship keeps his spot. Pacers Dane Paterson and off-spinner Dane Piedt also stay in the team. Matthew Breetzke, who scored 322 runs at an average of 46 in the domestic competition, gets his first Test call up and may replace Dean Elgar as a backup batter. Tristan Stubbs also stays in the red-ball team.

Marco Jansen is rested to manage his workload, and with Anrich Nortje focusing on T20Is, Dane Paterson is retained as an extra fast bowler alongside Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, and Gerald Coetzee.

“We have one new face, Matthew Breetzke, selected for his excellent performance last season. Resting Marco Jansen is to ensure his physical and mental well-being,” said Conrad in X.

The rest of the squad remains largely the same, with Ryan Rickelton returning as the second wicketkeeper, while Keegan Petersen is left out.

South Africa squad for West Indies Tests

Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne

The Men in Blue will now face South Africa in their final game on Saturday at the Bridgetown in Barbados. Earlier on Thursday, the Proteas beat Afghanistan in the first semi-final. India has qualified for the T20 World Cup 2024 final after defeating England by 69 runs in their second semi-final in Guyana on Thursday.
South Africa beat Afghanistan in the first semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Proteas advanced for their first World Cup final.

There will be several intriguing player battles ahead of the India-South Africa T20 World Cup final. Player clashes add a new level of excitement to the contest’s winner selection process. Let’s look at a few of them:

Rohit Sharma vs Kagiso Rabada

The Indian skipper has been in excellent form and is coming off two consecutive half-centuries. So far, no batter has hit three consecutive 50s in this tournament. The way Rohit is batting right now, it appears very possible, and he is a player who can remove the pitch from the equation.

That’s why it’s critical to stop him. Kagiso Rabada has also caused him problems on several occasions. Rabada has bowled Rohit 13 times in international cricket, including twice in the IPL. That means he eliminated the Indian captain 15 times in their 32 meetings.

Also Read: From weather to reserve day: All you need to know about T20 World Cup 2024 Final between South Africa and India

Virat Kohli vs Marco Jansen

Virat Kohli, the former Indian captain, is performing badly in this tournament. However, given his stature, he is capable of winning any position. That is why South Africa will not write him off. If South Africa can get him out early, it will put pressure on the remaining Indian batters, especially Rohit.

That is where we believe Marco Jansen can be useful. The pacer with the left arm is going to get the ball into him and are good bouncer, whereas Virat may struggle. Jansen dismissed Virat five times in international cricket and once in the Indian Premier League.

Heinrich Klaasen vs Kuldeep Yadav

South Africa will be contemplating their strategy against the Indian spinner, as this will be crucial in the SA vs IND final. Heinrich Klaasen will be the lineup’s biggest batter. He can face Indian spinner and score runs on shifting tracks as well.

Kuldeep Yadav, however, will be his most difficult challenge. This wrist spinner is difficult to read, which makes him a danger to any batter. Klaasen and Kuldeep have met ten times in international cricket, with Kuldeep dismissing him three times. In white-ball cricket, Klaasen has scored 84 runs off 64 balls against him.

Suryakumar Yadav vs Anrich Nortje

Not only will India rely on Rohit and Virat, but also on Suryakumar Yadav’s batting. He has been in excellent form throughout the tournament, and it is now time for him to deliver one final strong innings that will propel India to victory. He has a good record against South Africa.

He’ll be looking to play some unconventional shots. However, it can be difficult to beat Anrich Nortje, who can bowl at speeds ranging from 120 to 150 KMPH without changing his action. Nortje has twice dismissed Suryakumar in four IPL innings.

Quinton de Kock vs Jasprit Bumrah

Quinton de Kock is the leading scorer for South Africa in the current ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He scored runs against strong opposition and will be crucial for his team. If he gets going, he will not let the Indian bowlers rest. That is where it will be critical to get him out.

However, his first challenge will be versus Jasprit Bumrah. The ace pacer has given India a good start. His first spell will be critical. He has enjoyed bowling with De Kock. Bumrah has sacked De Kock six times, including once in the IPL.

ENG vs SA, 1st Test: Ben Stokes-led England were given a reality check in the first Test of the three-match series against South Africa as the hosts staggered to an innings and 12 runs loss at the Lord’s Cricket Ground on Friday. The first Test ended inside three days as Proteas bowlers made a joke of England’s batting lineup and the ‘Bazball’ approach was a flake-out. Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada bowled red hot spells, for which England had no responses.

After the loss, former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer took to Twitter to troll England as ‘Bazball’ misfired badly in the first Test.

“Bazball has done wonders in the fourth inns” SA: There will be no fourth inns,” tweeted Jaffer.

This was England’s first loss in tests under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. 

Recently, England had won each of the four Tests (three versus New Zealand and one versus India). In all those games, England chased down steep totals.

South Africa had won the toss and chose to bowl. Kagiso Rabada then went through England, taking a five-wicket haul, as the hosts were bowled out for 165. The guests then put on 326 in reply, with Sarel Erwee scoring half-century and Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Anrich Nortje adding a few significant runs down the order.

ALSO READ: IND vs ZIM: India needs to buckle up!

England’s second essay with the bat saw little improvement, as they were bowled out for 149, giving South Africa a win by an innings and 12 runs.

Nortje claimed three wickets, while Rabada, Jansen and Maharaj took two each. Lungi Ngidi got only one wicket, yet it was the big one of Joe Root.

The two teams will currently go head to head in the second Test in Manchester starting August 25.

ENG vs SA: South Africa kept up with their tight grip on the first  Test at Lord’s by bowling England out for 165 on the second morning with Kagiso Rabada claiming an amazing five-wicket haul.

Rain stopped the tourist’s charge at the very beginning as England attempted 116 for six and nearly posted their lowest total since the new regime of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum set about changing red-ball cricket in this country.

While the hosts moved past the 141 they scored here against New Zealand in June, Rabada sent Ollie Pope back to the pavilion early and got five for 52 to end England’s first innings up inside an hour on day two.

Lord’s was an ocean of red with the home of cricket turning ‘Red for Ruth’ for the fourth progressive year in memory of Sir Andrew Strauss’ wife Ruth, who passed away in 2018.

Everyone was focused on Pope first up and whether he could lead England to a serious all out when he continued on 61 not out, however he should have been dismissed from the 6th ball of the morning.

Having unhesitatingly pulled Rabada for four before in the over, Pope edged to initially slip just to watch Sarel Erwee ruin the catching opportunity at chest level.

Erwee spilled the first chance, nearly gripped onto the second and failed to gather at the third attempt in hilarious fashion while falling backward.

Pope didn’t trade out however as he played on at the start of Rabada’s third over to leave having added 12 runs to his overnight total.

Stuart Broad, lined up for a nighthawk role by captain Stokes during last month’s Test with India, did briefly satisfy his charging with two fours off Anrich Nortje ready to take England past the 141 they oversaw here in June.

Rabada again proved too good and showed his variation with slower ball tricking the England number eight, who could chip a simple catch to the visitor’s captain Dean Elgar at point.

ALSO READ: “It’s Fading Out…”: India legend warns the ICC of test cricket’s bleak future

Jack Leach followed team orders in attempting to be aggressive and welcomed Marco Jansen into the attack with two boundaries but soon lost his off stump.

It implied James Anderson, fresh from his 40th birthday celebration, left with England on 164 for nine. Anderson lasted only one ball with Rabada pinning him in front to make sure his name would go up on the Lord’s honour board and give South Africa control.