On Sunday, December 10, South Africa will play their first international match following their World Cup semifinal participation when they face India in the first of three Twenty20 Internationals in Durban.
With three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests highlighting the schedule, several intriguing players will compete in different forms at different times. Aside from being a chance to bring in the future generation of players for the long term, some of them are new recruits in place of workload management and injuries.
Aiden Markram takes charge of South Africa’s white-ball teams. Temba Bavuma captains the Test side. The team focuses on building a solid lineup for the next T20 World Cup. Their goal: clinching South Africa’s first-ever World Cup in senior cricket.
In addition to this, there’s the IPL 2024 Auction, which is scheduled for December 19 in Dubai. Strong performances against India have historically attracted franchises, and a number of players on the South African side have the potential to join that list if they perform well in upcoming Twenty20 Internationals.
In light of this, let’s take a look at three Proteas players who, if they perform well in these games, might win an IPL 2024 contract. Just so you know, we are looking at three names besides Gerald Coetzee, who, if his World Cup exploits are any indication, will probably start a bidding war.
1. Tristan Stubbs
It’s easy to be excited about Tristan Stubbs’ potential. After all, a hard-hitting middle-order batsman who can muscle the ball, bowls good off-spin, and fields superbly is likely to demand that buzz.
The Mumbai Indians (MI) took notice and recruited him as a substitute player for the IPL 2022 season. The 23 year old South African all-rounder has only made four appearances in the league and, after failing to impress, was released before of the IPL 2024 Auction.
However, there are clubs in need of a player who possesses Stubbs’ entire package. He is a really smart long-term investment for someone who is just starting out at the highest level, and a strong performance in the T20Is against India would further boost his already growing reputation. In such case, he should anticipate receiving a big payout when the auction takes place.
2. Nandre Burger
Nandre Burger, a left-arm seamer who comes in quickly and hits the deck hard, has got his first South African callup to play India in all forms. With injuries to Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje, as well as Kagiso Rabada being rested from the white-ball leg, a debut for him appears to be inevitable.
Burger has played 40 first-class matches, 39 List A games, and 43 T20s, and competing in the Zim-Afro T10 earlier this year. His T20 statistics are impressive, as he has 51 wickets at an economy rate of 7.33.
Apart from his ability to swing the new ball as a potential middle-overs enforcer, he might be a dark horse in the IPL 2024 Auction. More so when you consider that a left-arm seamer has a distinct advantage that would persuade teams to open their purse strings for him.
While he didn’t have much of a chance against a powerful Joburg Super Kings bowling attack in the South Africa league SA20, a successful performance in these T20Is against India should put him in the running for a spot in the IPL 2024 Auction.
3. Matthew Breetzke
The year 2023 has seen a quick development in Matthew Breetzke. For the first SA20, Durban’s Super Giants selected the 25-year-old top-order batsman who can also maintain wickets. He produced 125 runs in four innings with a strike-rate of 137.36 and an average of 62.50.
He then made his T20I debut against Australia in September. With Quinton de Kock playing in the Big Bash League (BBL), he is anticipated to start as an opener against India. For the second four-day match against the visiting Indians, the right-handed hitter has also been chosen captain of South Africa A.
The potential is definitely high, and Breetzke’s offensive game may pique the interest of clubs ahead of the IPL 2024 Auction. While it may appear that it is too soon for him to bolt his way into a contract, the mechanics of an auction are very unpredictable, which means that a strong performance against India might just enhance his stock.
