Proteas not looking for World Cup revenge ahead of T20I series against India

South Africa face India in a four-match T20I series at home, with the first match at Kingsmead on Friday, 8 November. The two sides last met in June in the final of the T20 World Cup, which the Proteas lost by seven runs.

“It’s always been challenging playing against South Africa, be it in the T20 World Cup or any bilateral,” said Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav at Thursday’s prematch press conference.

Yadav took an otherworldly catch to dismiss David Miller off the bowling of Hardik Pandya in the last over of the T20 World Cup final to seal victory for India. However, Yadav was not the captain that day. The side was led by Rohit Sharma, who announced his retirement after the final, alongside cricket legend Virat Kohli.

“It’s the same countries but personnel has changed from both teams,” said Proteas skipper Aiden Markram on Thursday.

The Proteas will be without fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, and wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock, all of whom played in the final.

“It’s always an exciting series when you play against India, especially when you can play them at home. It’s a series we always look forward to,”  said Markram.

He said his side were not looking at the fixture as a chance to avenge their World Cup defeat.

Breaking the duck

Despite taking the Proteas to a World Cup final for the first time, Markram has never won a T20I series as a captain. He has lost four and drawn two of the six series he has overseen.

Outside of the T20 World Cup, the Proteas have used T20 series and matches as an opportunity to initiate younger players into the international fold.

“It’s been a testing few months now,” said Markram.

“We’ve addressed the reasons behind [the Proteas’ lack of success, such as] growth and opportunities — things that are going to make cricketers better in South Africa over a long period of time.

“I want to carry it forward, and I want to win games and series or South Africa, but you lock into the bigger picture, you lock into how much it is going to help cricket in South Africa moving forward.

“Sometimes you have to go through these tough times and hopefully there’ll be some light at the end of the tunnel for us as a team.”

The four matches between the two sides will be played across seven days. The match at Kingsmead in Durban begins at 5pm. The two sides play each other again in Gqeberha on Sunday, followed by matches at Centurion and Wanderers. DM