‘Keep playing as we are.’
That’s what South African swashbuckler Dewald Brevis said the team’s approach will be as they prepare for their first Super Eight encounter, against co-hosts India, in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
The Proteas will go into that game with a perfect record in the group stage and though it will count for very little in the next phase of the ICC T20 World Cup, it will give them some confidence against the tournament favourites.
The Proteas may also take some lessons from the T20 series they played in India a few months ago and though they were at the receiving end of a 3-1 reversal, there would be a few lessons learnt. “It will be a fresh game on another surface,” Brevis said. “After the last series, my father pointed out that it was only a preparation for when we met India at the World Cup. In such matches, it’s important to look after the small things that can make a big difference.”
One of the key threats for South Africa in that game would be mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who has been a riddle for almost every batter who has faced him in the competition so far. Brevis has a simple ploy to tackle him.
“He (Varun) is a spin bowler. It’s important to watch him closely and react and play accordingly,” the 22-year-old, often compared with Proteas legend AB de Villiers for his talent and style of batting, said.
Brevis is among a host of South African cricketers who play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and are thus used to the conditions usually prevalent in this country. “If anything, the pitches in the IPL are a bit flatter than what we have seen in this World Cup. But they are still very good for batting.”
South Africa’s final group game, against the UAE at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday, was their first in the competition away from Ahmedabad, where they will go back to confront Suryakumar Yadav’s troops. That could give them some understanding of the pitch and conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium, pace bowling all-rounder Corbin Bosch said. “We have played at Ahmedabad and know how things are there. It’s now time to focus on the individuals.”
However, he didn’t single out any single player from South Africa’s next opponents for special attention. “It’s a destructive line-up. All their batsmen are very dangerous,” the 31-year-old said.
With Kagiso Rabada not being himself during much of the tournament, Bosch has had to do more of the heavy lifting with the ball – both in the Powerplay and at the death.
“It (death bowling) is certainly not fun, but having such great fast bowlers is such a luxury. It’s the first time we are all playing together and getting to know each other,” he said.
When asked about the extra responsibility he has had to shoulder in the ongoing tournament, Bosch recited a phrase made famous by tennis legend Novak Djokovic. “Pressure is a privilege.”