There are so many instances of South Africa coming to a big ICC event as favourites and delivering an underwhelming performance that fans have lost count. Like Australia, they are also going through a transition and have decided to not pick senior pros like Faf du Plessis and Imran Tahir in the team, despite them being available and du Plessis performing regularly for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.
Instead, they have trusted a young squad under a relatively new captain. This time, they may not look strong on paper, but they are coming off nine wins in their last 10 T20 International matches and can deliver an impressive performance.
Their top four will include captain Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen. De Kock and Markram was part of the IPL and must be familiar with the UAE conditions by now. Dussen played a great knock in their practice match against Pakistan to score a 51-ball hundred and looked in great form. He has been marked as their biggest X-factor for this tournament. A lot will depend on these four as their middle-order options like Heinrich Klassen, David Miller and Wiaan Mulder do not look too impressive.
Their two primary speedsters, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje played together in the IPL for Delhi Capitals and built one of the strongest pace attacks in that tournament. They would be again in focus and expect to lead the bowling attack for South Africa in the World T20. However, unlike earlier times, this time they also have a very good spin attack which can be a big boost for them in UAE. Tabraiz Shamsi is currently the number one bowler in T20 International cricket as he and Keshav Maharaj develop a great spin attack for South Africa. Maharaj is also in good form and often bowl in the Powerplay.
It will not be an easy ride for South Africa. How their batters can cope up with the conditions and strong spin attacks of sub-continental teams like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be a big factor in their performance. They are starting the tournament with a match against Australia where they are the favourites. They would hope to start with a winning note and continue the momentum to get their third appearance World T20 semi-final after 2009 and 2014.
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