South Africa better off as underdogs
South Africa have been one team which have always raised hopes of their fans but never been able to cross the line in the major ICC tournaments when it mattered. When they made their entry in the white ball format in the 1992 World Cup, they looked unbeatable till they were robbed off a win against England because of the archaic rain-rule.
The rain-rule was replaced by Duckworth Lewis system, but it also cost them dearly in the 2003 World Cup when they lost to Sri Lanka by one run. If it was not rain, sometimes brain-freeze cost them an entry to the knockout stages like when Lance Klusener and Allan Donald were left stranded on the crease in 1999 when it looked they were the favourites.
In the shortest format too, South Africa had a similar run. In the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 where they were hosts, they won all their matches and had to just score 124 in their last Super Six game against India to reach the semi-finals but got knocked out as they managed just 116 runs. Similarly in 2009, they were beaten by a resurgent Pakistan in the semi-finals, Shahid Afridi being the hero for his team. In 2014, an epic Virat Kohli innings denied them in the semi-finals.
This is the first time South Africa enter the World T20 as underdogs. They don’t have any superstars to boast of like AB De Villiers or Faf Du Plessis but are led by Temba Bavuma. They are coming in to the World Cup with three series wins, most importantly with a win against West Indies, the defending champs.
They have in Quinton de Kock an opener who can give them a blazing start. In Rassie van der Dussen, they have an ideal player who can up the ante when wanted. In David Miller, they have a good finisher who on his day can be devastating.
But what makes them potent is their bowling attack with Anrich Nortje and Kasigo Rabada - who recently played the IPL in UAE and looked very good for Delhi Capitals. In Tabraiz Shamsi, they have the world No.1 T20 bowler.
Before every ICC tournament, the question arises ‘can South Africa break the jinx this year’, but come their first match against Australia today in Abu Dhabi, they go in without any burden. If they can pull it off, it could be a major turning point for a team that always has shown promise but faltered at the key moments.