South Africa's Surprising T20 World Cup Squad Excludes Young Talents

South Africa's squad for the ICC T20 World Cup has raised eyebrows with the exclusion of promising players Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs. Led by Aiden Markram, the team features experienced players like Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje. Despite their IPL experience, Rickelton and Stubbs were left out as South Africa aims for its first major white-ball title. The squad will compete in Group D against Afghanistan, New Zealand, Canada, and the UAE. Read on to find out more about the team's composition and the reasons behind these surprising decisions.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 3, 2026, 02:16 IST

Unexpected Exclusions in South Africa's T20 World Cup Team

In a surprising turn of events, South Africa has announced its squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka next year. Notably, wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton and batter Tristan Stubbs, both seen as key players for the future, have been left out of the lineup.

Aiden Markram will captain the team, which includes seasoned players like Quinton de Kock, who made a comeback from retirement in white-ball cricket last year, and fast bowler Anrich Nortje, both considered essential to the squad. De Kock will serve as the primary wicketkeeper without a backup.

Despite their experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL), both Rickelton, 29, and Stubbs, 25, were omitted. Their absence is notable as South Africa aims for its first major white-ball title, having recently won the ICC World Test Championship under Temba Bavuma's leadership. The team narrowly missed out on the T20 World Cup 2024 title, losing to India by just seven runs while chasing a target of 177.

Rickelton's performance in T20 internationals this year has been modest, accumulating 118 runs in five innings at an average of 23.60 and a strike rate of 132.58, with a top score of 71 against Australia. Across 18 T20Is, he has scored 381 runs at an average of 21.16 and a strike rate exceeding 134, including two half-centuries and a best of 76.

Conversely, Stubbs has managed 152 runs in seven T20Is this year, averaging 21.71 with a strike rate just above 121, and a highest score of 37. In his 42 T20I appearances, he has amassed 822 runs at an average of 27.40 and a strike rate over 132, featuring two fifties and a best score of 76.

Both players bring valuable IPL experience, with Rickelton making a strong debut for the Mumbai Indians (MI) this year, scoring 388 runs in 14 matches at an average just below 30 and a strike rate nearing 151, including three fifties.

Stubbs has played for MI and the Delhi Capitals (DC) since IPL 2022, accumulating 705 runs in 32 matches at an impressive average of 41.47 and a strike rate over 163, also with three fifties. His contributions have been vital for DC's middle order, particularly last season when he scored 300 runs in 14 matches at an average of 50 and a strike rate exceeding 150.

In the recent SA20 season, Rickelton showcased his talent with scores of 113 and 33 for MI Cape Town, while Stubbs, now the captain of Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC), has struggled with scores of 17, 9, and 2*.

Selection convener Patrick Moroney commented, "We have had to make some big calls, but we feel this group is the strongest and has every chance of succeeding in India and Sri Lanka. We have assembled a world-class squad with some of the finest and most experienced players in the game, together with some of the best T20 youngsters coming through."

South Africa will compete in Group D alongside Afghanistan, New Zealand, Canada, and the UAE.

The squad includes: 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.