T20 World Cup 2026: 3 South Africa players who were underutilised

South Africa were one of the favourites coming into the T20 World Cup 2026. They lived up to the billing and produced an impressive campaign but came undone in the semi-finals. The Proteas were dominant through the group stage, defeating Afghanistan, Canada, UAE, and New Zealand. They carried that momentum into the Super Eight stage as well, where they defeated hosts India, Zimbabwe, and West Indies to storm into the knockout round with an unblemished record.

However, their campaign came to a screeching halt in the semi-final as they were pummelled by New Zealand, crushing their hopes to clinch their maiden title in the shortest format. Despite their strong performances throughout the tournament, South Africa faced some selection dilemmas, as a few players did not receive enough opportunities. 

Here are 3 South Africa players who were underutilised in T20 World Cup 2026:

George Linde 

Spin all-rounder George Linde was one of the players who could have been used more effectively during the tournament. The left-arm spinner featured in only four matches despite performing in the limited chances he got.

Linde first played against Afghanistan in the group stage and returned 1/39 in a contest for the ages as the two teams played out a nerve-wracking Double Super Over. Linde also delivered an economical spell against UAE, returning an analysis of 1/17. In the Super Eight stage against Zimbabwe, Linde once again impressed with an all-round performance, claiming 1/22 and scoring a valuable 30 with the bat.

Despite his consistent contributions, Linde did not get as many chances in the playing XI. South Africa could have exploited his services better, especially considering the nature of Indian pitches, which often assist spin bowlers. Overall, Linde has 333 runs and 34 wickets in 32 matches.

Tristan Stubbs

Middle-order dasher Tristan Stubbs was somewhat underutilised. Although he was part of all the matches, his batting position curbed the impact he could make. Stubbs commenced the tournament with a 34-run knock against Canada and then played a vital role in his team’s victory in the Double Super Over clash against Afghanistan. However, in several games, his entry point was not ideal, and his late arrival denied him the chance to create a meaningful impact.

Stubbs displayed his ability in his brisk 44 in the Super Eight clash against India, helping South Africa post a competitive total. He then amassed 21 against Zimbabwe and 29 in the semi-final against New Zealand, though it could not take his team through to the final. Given his attacking ability and versatility, Stubbs could have made greater impact batting higher up the order.

Anrich Nortje

Express pacer Anrich Nortje was another underutilised asset, as he played merely two matches despite delivering in both outings. Nortje picked up 2/28 in the group stage clash against UAE and returned figures of 1/29, proving his worth with the ball in what was South Africa’s final Super Eight match against Zimbabwe.

Despite bowling economically and picking up important wickets, Nortje was reduced to warming the bench for majority of the tournament, as the Proteas preferred the pace trifecta of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen. However, Nortje’s express pace could have come in handy for South Africa even on docile pitches.