South Africa have several new faces in their squad for the three-match Twenty20 International series against India starting at Kingsmead, Durban, on Sunday. Despite the unfamiliar line-up, Captain Aiden Markram expresses confidence in their ability to assert an attacking style, looking ahead to next year's World Cup.
With key players given a rest, the hosts have introduced batters Matthew Breetzke and Donovan Ferreira, along with seamers Ottniel Baartman, Nandre Burger and Lizaad Williams to their squad for the series. A notable addition on Friday was Beuran Hendricks, who hasn't played for the team in over two years; he was included late after regular player Lungi Ngidi withdrew due to injury.
"We have played a lot against the new faces (in domestic cricket), but I suppose you'd like to know them better on a deeper level before going into a series with them," Markram told reporters on Saturday.
"But we have had a few good days together getting to understand what gets them to tick. I suppose that is the nature of cricket nowadays. Series come thick and fast and there will be stages where new guys come in and they are going to have to find their feet quickly."
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in the West Indies and the United States from June 4-30. South Africa have limited opportunities in the shortest format leading up to the tournament, as the majority of their players are engaged in domestic T20 leagues during the first half of the next year.
"There is a lot of cricket in between but not a lot of cricket for us as a team together," Markram said. "As long as the guys understand the way that we want to try play as a team and can keep that close to them when playing in different leagues and tournaments, then hopefully by the time we meet up for the World Cup, the guys are used to that brand and how we want to operate as a team."
India's tour will commence with three T20Is in Durban, Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), and Johannesburg from Sunday to Thursday.
Following the T20I series, the focus will shift to three one-day internationals scheduled between December 17 and 21, taking place in the latter two venues and Paarl.
The tour culminates in a two-Test series, commencing on December 26 in Pretoria, followed by the second fixture on January 3 at Newlands, Cape Town.
(With Reuters inputs)Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
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