South Africa vs New Zealand Playing 11: Will Temba Bavuma return to lead his team?

As anticipation builds for the highly anticipated semifinal clash between New Zealand and South Africa in the Champions Trophy, both teams are expected to field their strongest lineups to secure a place in the final.

With a history of underperformance in major ICC events, both nations are eager to shed that label and make a significant impact in the tournament.

The South African team, captained by Temba Bavuma, boasts a lineup filled with explosive talent. Key players to watch include the in-form Ryan Rickelton, who recently scored a century, and the experienced batters Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller. Their bowling attack features the pace of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, complemented by the spin of Keshav Maharaj, giving them a slight edge in terms of variety.


On the other hand, New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, has shown resilience and skill throughout the tournament. Senior batter Tom Latham has been a standout performer, and with Kane Williamson returning to form, the batting lineup looks formidable. The Kiwis also have a strong bowling unit led by Matt Henry, who has taken eight wickets, and Will O’Rourke, supporting him with six scalps.

SA vs NZ playing XI prediction

South Africa Predicted XI:
1. Temba Bavuma (C)
2. Ryan Rickelton
3. Aiden Markram
4. Rassie van der Dussen
5. Heinrich Klaasen (wk)
6. David Miller
7. Marco Jansen
8. Keshav Maharaj
9. Wiaan Mulder
10. Kagiso Rabada
11. Lungi Ngidi

New Zealand Predicted XI:
1. Will Young
2. Rachin Ravindra
3. Kane Williamson
4. Tom Latham (wk)
5. Daryl Mitchell
6. Glenn Phillips
7. Mitchell Santner (C)
8. Michael Bracewell
9. Matt Henry
10. William O’Rourke
11. Kyle Jamieson