‘Good thing is South Africa haven’t played their perfect game yet in this World Cup’ – Dean Elgar

It would be very harsh if they use that word against this current group. Nothing in their last year or even 18 months has indicated that word to be used. They have been real good in white-ball cricket; the last ODI World Cup in India also was good though ultimately it didn’t go our way.

As a former captain, I feel very, very proud that this team has entered an ICC final after so many years. I think the monkey on the back has curbed a little bit by reaching the final but I know South African fans – they would only be completely happy if this team lifts that trophy. They are used to winning in Rugby and in sports and tend to expect and judge on that result.

I can sense mixed emotions amongst them. People closer to the cricketing group will have a lot of pride and the fans at large can be a bit difficult with the Proteas, because of the past. If we don’t win against this Indian team which can be ruthless and relentless in their pursuit of aggression, I think it will be pretty piss-poor of the public if they use that c-word against this group. The good thing about this team is that I genuinely feel that they still haven’t played their perfect game, yet.

This is an interesting team that has played without the baggage of the past, to an extent. It’s not been an easy campaign in challenging conditions. They have seemingly let slip of the control in a few games, but every time they charged back with intensity and purpose to clinch in the end. Every single time, thus far. I would focus on that phase rather than how they let it slip in the initial part.

South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, right, is congratulated by teammates after dismissing Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran during the men’s T20 World Cup semifinal cricket match between Afghanistan and South Africa at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tabago, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. AP/PTI

The batting hasn’t quite clicked as perfectly as they would have liked and that has been one of the reasons. The bowling has been great. Not just KG who doesn’t need any more motivation than playing in a World Cup final to do his thing against India, but also Marco Jansen who has been delivering the first blow first-up. He is that kind of a character, who won’t back away. The young Baartman was good and Anrich Nortje has been very good since he came back, bowling with a lot of heart. And let’s not forget the two spinners Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, who have won tight moments for the team. That game against Bangladesh is an example. People kept talking about the full-tosses Keshav bowled in the final over but I saw how he fought hard to hold himself together under pressure. And he is the kind who would learn from that experience.

An interesting team led by an interesting captain. I remember when I saw a young Aiden Markram all those years back, even then he had carried this aura of being a leadership material around him. Back then I would say he was trying to establish himself as a batsman and the dual focus perhaps didn’t help in the way his first stint with captaincy went. But this time around he has not only the experience, but a self-assurance about him. He is thriving as a captain even if the runs haven’t come as a batsman. He is thirsting to lead from front, regardless. And he has always had that calm assured manner about him. You can’t teach that; he has that trait. And he has always been a good thinker who reads game situations very well, a natural in that aspect. He adapts and thinks in the moment – very crucial for this format. At this stage in his career, everything is coming together well.

South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram walks from the field following his team’s nine wicket win over Afghanistan in their men’s T20 World Cup semifinal cricket match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tabago, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. AP/PTI

Unlike a few of our teams in the past, with bigger names, the stars, this team has lesser pressure. I am not going to speak for those former players, but understandably the pressure on them might have been higher. The current group might not be all-stars like some units of the past, they might not be the biggest household names worldwide, but they have been doing brilliantly in the recent past. Not being stars can also help in playing as a unit and maybe less individualism going around – and that can work in a team’s favour. Also the new voice of a new coach Rob Walter, who would have brought in a new language with him into the camp.

I haven’t been surprised at all that they are in the final. The talent speaks for itself, and I know this is a pretty confident team. I hope they can embrace and appreciate the feeling of being in a World Cup final. India do start as favourites, but like South Africa’s there are a couple of batting form worries in the Indian team too. Taking out Rohit Sharma early would be key and hope Virat continues to have another bad day!

I have known Ro for years now, and I have always sensed that he is sort of a player who likes to lead from the front. Not just talk, but walk the talk and show others. He has respect for that trait from players from other countries. The way he has personally gone relentlessly after bowling from the start is a result of that trait; it would have been understandable if he had held himself back a touch, but that won’t be the Ro I know. He doesn’t want others to do the job for him, instead he is setting the template, the style of play he wants from India and by doing that personally, he is taking pressure off the team.

Both teams have a very good all-round strong bowling attack and the World Cup final would come down to how the batsmen cope. I hope the Proteas have one more special performance in them. As a former player, I can’t state how brilliant it would be for us and the fans – to finally have that silverware in our cupboard. My happiest World-Cup memory, then, will hopefully come on Saturday.

(Dean Elgar is a former Test captain of South Africa who has played 87 Tests and hit 14 hundreds as an opener. He spoke to Sriram Veera.)