Cricket World Cup 2023: 3 Key Players For The Proteas

The Proteas will look for their maiden World Cup triumph as they head to India as one of the tournament’s dark horses. Temba Bavuma’s side could benefit from the lack of expectation but will need some of their key players to step up if they are going to go all the way. We look at 3 players who could play a key role for the Proteas in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

Temba Bavuma

The Proteas’ skipper is in the form of his life and is arguably SA’s most crucial batter in ODIs at the moment. Temba Bavuma’s ODI numbers in 2023 are very impressive. He’s scored 637 runs at an average of 91.00, striking at 104.42. Bavuma has also scored 3 centuries to go with his 2 fifties and will be looking to produce the same numbers when it matters most.

His partnership with Quintin de Kock at the top of the order could play a pivotal role in the Proteas’ chances of winning or going far in this year’s World Cup. He’s proven to be a great leader and captain over the past few years and will play a massive role if the Proteas are to win their first-ever World Cup.

Temba Bavuma is in excellent form ahead of the World Cup 💪 pic.twitter.com/t1WtEov4l9

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 13, 2023

Aiden Markram

Another player who’s having a stellar year in ODI cricket is Bavuma’s righthand man Aiden Markram.

Since the end of March, he’s scored two centuries and averages 90.20 across seven innings. While one of his hundreds came against the Netherlands, who South Africa dominated, the second was against Australia in the recent ODI series.

Markram’s recent performances in the fifty-over format have been a long time coming. Despite being hailed as South Africa’s next big thing since his international debut back in 2017, Markram’s ODI career had, until now, been rather unremarkable. Prior to his century against the Netherlands, the three-figure mark had eluded him throughout his ODI journey, leaving him with an average of 30.11 from 46 innings, a statistic that hardly reflected his immense potential and talent.

The main reason he is on this list ahead of the likes of Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada, is because he could play a key role with both bat and ball. His off-spin has grown a considerable amount this year and could come in handy as the sixth bowling option in Indian conditions.

If he can build on what has been a fantastic white-ball year for him, he could be the Proteas hero in India.

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Heinrich Klaasen

Most people wouldn’t have had Klaasen on this list a few years ago but his white-ball form in the last year has been fantastic. From fantastic displays in the SA20 and IPL to his performances for the Proteas, it’s clear to see why Klaasen is one of the hottest players right now. In the recent ODI series against Australia, the wicket-keeper batter scored an unbelievable 174 of 83 balls, with his century coming in 55 deliveries.

He is currently one of the best players of spin which will be key in India. He showed that for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in this year’s IPL. He struck at 191 and averaged 132 against spin in the tournament.

Klaasen, Markram and David Miller have the potential to dominate bowling attacks in the World Cup, which could bode well for the Proteas.