India will be up against it if de Kock gets going

India faces a tough challenge against South Africa, especially if Quinton de Kock performs well in the match.

It was only a couple of months back that South Africa played a white-ball series in India after blanking the home side in the preceding Test series. That T20I series was not only a good warm-up for the World Cup but also gave both teams an idea about each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Don’t forget that South Africa are still smarting over that defeat in the World Cup final in Barbados in June 2024 and are thirsting for revenge.

Since then, they have gone on to beat Australia in the final of the World Test Championship and know better how to tackle the big-match temperament. That one win after being so near yet so far on several occasions has done wonders to their confidence and they have looked a different team since then in all formats of the game. There is a mean look about them now and they take the field with a swagger that the West Indies and Australian teams of yore had.

They also have the advantage of so many of their players playing in the IPL and so are familiar with the conditions and the pressure of the Indian crowds. Like the other teams in Super Eight Group 1, they won all their group-stage games quite comfortable barring the match against Afghanistan. Their changed mindset was seen again in the thriller against the Afghans. They never gave up, stuck to their plans and eventually prevailed in the second Super Over.

Like the Indian team, they don’t rely on any one player and have several game-changers. The one to watch out for with the bat would be Quinton de Kock as his record against India is simply phenomenal. If the left-hander gets going, India will be up against it. Marco Jansen is a match-winner with both the bat and ball. But the bowler who has come on superbly is Lungi Ngidi with his variations of pace and slower deliveries.

India have had a different batter put his hand up in the matches so far and that’s a good sign. The bowling, though, is still in the hands of the one and only Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy with Hardik Pandya chipping in as usual with a wicket or two at the start and at the end of the innings.

South Africa will probably have a slight advantage in the fielding department. But if India gets their boundary fielders right, then they will save useful runs and also take those difficult catches.