South Africa, captained by Keshav Maharaj, has revealed their starting lineup for the opening Test of their two-match series against Zimbabwe, which will begin on Saturday, June 28 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. They have now added three new players to their roster: Codi Yusuf, Dewald Brevis, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius.
Since Temba Bavuma, the full-time captain, was ruled out due to a hamstring injury he suffered during the 2023–25 World Test Championship final, Maharaj will captain an inexperienced South African team. There are four pacers in the team, including Wiaan Mulder, who batted at No. 3 against Australia in the WTC final.
🚨 TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨
Captain Keshav Maharaj has confirmed the Starting XI for our Proteas Men ahead of tomorrow’s 1st Test against Zimbabwe 🏏🇿🇦.
A team ready to leave their mark in Bulawayo with flair and firepower 💪🔥.#WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/hvCSd0xkS0
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 27, 2025
Tony de Zorzi returned to the starting lineup after missing his final Test match the previous year. The only players to have participated in the Proteas’ last Test match against the Australians are Mulder, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, and Maharaj.
This game is not included in the WTC’s current cycle. Since December 2017, South Africa has not played the Zimbabweans in the longest format until now. Eleven years have passed since they last travelled to Zimbabwe to play a series against them.
This December 2017 series only has three players: Maharaj, Craig Ervine, and Blessing Muzarabani. The Proteas won the match by a margin of an innings and 120 runs. The conflict lasted for only a few days at most.
Only 498 runs were scored during the entire game. Aiden Markram, who is one of many players that Cricket South Africa has rested, won Player of the Match for scoring 125 runs in the lone innings that his team played in Gqeberha.
South Africa’s First Test Starting XI
Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (week), Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Codi Yusuf, Kwena Maphaka, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, David Bedingham, and
India
