South Africa squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Nortje, Ngidi return from injury as Proteas unveil Bavuma-led XV

Pacers Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi were included after recovering from injuries as South Africa unveiled their squad for the ICC Champions Trophy that gets underway in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates in February. The Temba Bavuma-led squad additionally includes 10 players who were part of the Proteas side that had reached the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup in India.

Both Nortje (broken toe) and Ngidi (groin) had missed South Africa’s home international season due to injuries. Nortje had also missed the ODI World Cup in India but returned after a nine-month layoff in time to help the Proteas reach the final of the T20 World Cup in the US and the Caribbean, where he was among the leading wicket-takers in the tournament. Ngidi, on the other hand, had collected 10 wickets in eight games in the ODI World Cup but missed the T20 World Cup.

Also Read | Full squads for 2025 ICC Champions Trophy

From the 15-man squad assembled by white-ball coach Rob Walter, Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickleton will be making their maiden appearance in an ICC event.

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Gerald Coetzee, however, was a notable omission from the Proteas squad, with the pacer having set the World Cup on fire in India, finishing as the fifth-highest wicket-taker with 20 wickets at an average of 19.80.

Coach Walter explained that it was a direct shoot-out between Nortje and Coetzee when it came to picking the squad.

“They both offer high pace but Anrich has a little bit more experience and potentially some attributes that will stand us in good stead in Pakistan. Gerald was a tough one because he’s ultimately done nothing wrong to not be selected,” Walter told ESPNCricinfo.

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🚨SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT🚨

White-ball head coach Rob Walter has today announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will be played in Pakistan from 19 February – 09 March.

One-Day International captain Temba Bavuma will lead the full-strength squad, which… pic.twitter.com/Bzt0rqjveG

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) January 13, 2025

The upcoming Champions Trophy will also be the first time since 2014 in which wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock will not be representing the Proteas. De Kock had retired from the ODI format after the 2023 World Cup, in which he had finished as the third-highest run-scorer with 594 runs at an average of 59.40, and Walter indicated that while they had several opening options at their disposal, de Zorzi was likely to bat at the top of the order with skipper Bavuma.

South Africa, winners of the inaugural Champions Trophy (known back then as the ICC KnockOut Tournament) in 1998 under the late Hansie Cronje’s leadership, are grouped alongside two-time champions Australia as well as England and Afghanistan.

Also Read | South Africa refuses to boycott Afghanistan match in Champions Trophy

South Africa squad for Champions Trophy: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen