Former England captain Michael Vaughan has backed South Africa to lift the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. His prediction comes in light of the Proteas’ strong showing in their ongoing three-match ODI series against England.
In the series opener at Leeds on Tuesday, September 2, Temba Bavuma’s men secured a commanding seven-wicket win while chasing down 132 with 175 balls remaining. Two days later, on Thursday, September 4, at Lord’s, the visitors edged out England by five runs in a high-scoring contest after posting 331, clinching the series with a 2-0 lead.
Impressed by their current form, Vaughan took to X to share his prediction.
“South Africa to win the World Cup in 2027 me thinks.”
https://twitter.com/michaelvaughan/status/1963613660347064509?s=46
The triumph also marked South Africa’s first ODI series win on English soil since 1998. The teams will meet once more in the final dead rubber clash on Sunday, September 7, at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.
Proteas Yet To Reach An ODI World Cup Final
South Africa have been one of the most consistent performers in ODI World Cup history, yet the elusive final has always remained out of reach — a trend that has earned them the notorious “chokers” label. The Proteas have reached the semi-finals five times (1992, 1999, 2007, 2015, and 2023), only to fall short on each occasion.
In the latest 2023 edition, they once again stumbled at the penultimate hurdle, going down to Australia by three wickets while defending 213. If Michael Vaughan’s bold prediction materializes, a World Cup triumph in 2027 would mark a historic first for South Africa.
The year 2025 has already been special for the Proteas, with Temba Bavuma leading them to their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) crown at Lord’s. They beat defending champions Australia by five wickets, successfully chasing 282 in the final innings.
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