The luxury of endless tinkering is gone. Decisions need to be made, and they need to stick.
Coach Shukri Conrad has made no secret of his ambition to take South Africa all the way to the final, but recent results suggest that target may be optimistic.
The Proteas have lost nine of their 13 T20I matches in 2025, a return that raises more questions than it answers. Still, belief remains. After finishing runners-up to India in the USA and Caribbean last time around, the dream of a first major white-ball trophy is very much alive – provided the right calls are made.
The first big debate is at the top of the order. Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram started the year as the preferred opening pair, at a time when Quinton de Kock was retired and Reeza Hendricks seemed to be fading out. Since then, everything has shifted.
Rickelton’s form has dipped, De Kock is back, and Hendricks has reminded everyone he still has plenty to offer. Markram, meanwhile, has suffered from being shuffled up and down the order. With most top teams favouring a power-hitting wicketkeeper up front, De Kock feels like the obvious choice. The real question is who partners him – Markram or Hendricks – and where Markram is best settled.
Then there’s Dewald Brevis. The hype is justified, and his place in the side feels non-negotiable. The smarter move may be batting him at four, where he has time to shape an innings and change the game, rather than asking him to play a finisher’s role that doesn’t yet suit him.
Selection only gets trickier from there. The Proteas are caught between loyalty to the old guard – players like David Miller, Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj and Anrich Nortje – and the temptation to fully back the next wave of talent. Balance is key, and Conrad must decide whether to trust experience or begin building something new.
Allrounders add another layer of complexity. Options are plentiful, but Marco Jansen feels undroppable. His growth with the bat and his impact with the ball makes him one of South Africa’s most feared weapons.
Finally, the bowling attack. Ngidi, Rabada and Jansen pick themselves, but squeezing in the rest of the firepower will be painful. Talent is everywhere – places are not.
Tough calls await, and the clock is ticking.