South Africa vs New Zealand T20I Preview: Rob Walter Faces His Former Team in Harare
Date: July 16, 2025
Time: 1 PM Local Time | 11 AM GMT | 4:30 PM IST
Venue: Harare Sports Club
Rob Walter is set for a special moment in cricket. The new head coach of New Zealand will face South Africa — the team he coached for two years until March 2025. Walter now coaches New Zealand across all formats after replacing Gary Stead in June.
New Zealand Back to Full Strength
This T20I series is Walter's first assignment as New Zealand coach. His team looks strong with the return of big players like captain Mitchell Santner, Devon Conway, and Rachin Ravindra. These players were busy with T20 leagues in recent months but are now back in action. On paper, New Zealand looks like the favorite to win the tri-series.
South Africa’s Winning Momentum
South Africa is enjoying a great run of form. They recently won the World Test Championship final at Lord’s and crushed Zimbabwe in a two-match series. They started this tri-series with a confident five-wicket win over Zimbabwe.
Even though some senior players are rested, South Africa’s young squad performed well. Bowlers kept things tight, with only Andile Simelane and Corbin Bosch conceding more than 8 runs per over. In batting, Rubin Hermann, Dewald Brevis, and Corbin Bosch were impressive. However, their top-order will need to score more runs against stronger opponents like New Zealand.
Match Preview: What to Expect
The pitch at Harare Sports Club is good for batting, but new-ball bowlers will have some help early on. There is no rain forecast, so we can expect a full match.
Probable Playing XIs
🟢 South Africa Possible XI:
1. Lhuan-dre Pretorius
2. Reeza Hendricks
3. Rassie van der Dussen (captain)
4. Rubin Hermann
5. Dewald Brevis
6. Corbin Bosch
7. George Linde
8. Andile Simelane
9. Gerald Coetzee
10. Nqaba Peter
11. Lungi Ngidi
Team Update: South Africa may bring in fast bowler Gerald Coetzee to test his fitness. Nandre Burger could make way.
⚫ New Zealand Possible XI:
1. Tim Seifert
2. Devon Conway
3. Mark Chapman
4. Rachin Ravindra
5. Glenn Phillips
6. Daryl Mitchell
7. Michael Bracewell
8. Mitchell Santner (captain)
9. Adam Milne
10. Matt Henry
11. William O’Rourke
New Zealand is likely to make changes from their last T20I series in March against Pakistan, with several key players returning.
What Players Are Saying
South African all-rounder George Linde said: “This is not the full Proteas squad. Many top players are resting after the WTC final. But the new guys are excited and hungry to perform.”
Final Thoughts
New Zealand starts as favorites, but South Africa’s young side is full of energy and confidence. Expect a competitive and exciting T20 clash at Harare Sports Club!
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