‘We'll feed off the freshness of new faces’ – Duminy
It has been a tumultuous time for South Africa, having lost the six-match one-day international series 5-1 to India, but the hosts will hope for a quick turnaround when the two sides lock horns in the three-match Twenty20 International series.
Already missing key players such as Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock through injury, South Africa have had to introduce as many as six new faces in their 14-man squad. JP Duminy, the stand-in captain, acknowledged it would be a hard road ahead but was confident that the new faces could add freshness to the side.
"It is something that we spoke about this morning (Saturday), that we will feed off the freshness of new faces around," said Duminy. "The format is different. It is a quicker and more aggressive format. And it will naturally bring out the best in us.
“I am excited to be able to lead. I think leadership naturally brings out the best in me and I enjoy the experience of leading people. I am quite excited by it."
Expressing disappointment over South Africa's recent performances where they were comprehensively outclassed, Duminy accepted that the ODI campaign gave them a much-needed reality check.
“It has been a dismal one-day series for us where India have outplayed us," conceded Duminy. "That’s something that we will have to take on the chin and realise that we are far from a finished article going into the World Cup a year from now. It is about each and every player seeing themselves in the mirror and how they can improve, to try and stake a claim for that 15-man squad in a year’s time.”
Taking confidence from the third ODI, where South Africa won chasing 202 in 28 overs in a rain-shortened encounter, Duminy suggested that South Africa were in a better place to handle the shortest format of the game.
“If I look at Pink Day’s shortened game, the platform was set for almost T20 style of play," said Duminy. "I think that type of mindset brought out the best in us. I am quite excited to see how we go about it in terms of this format now.
“Irrespective of who we come up against, I still believe that with new faces around, plus guys who have been in the ODI series, it is a squad that can definitely win the series. So the aim is to always compete and win the series, no matter who we come up against.”
As was the case in the ODIs, the hosts will once again have to be wary of the wrist-spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav – they picked up a combined 33 wickets in the ODIs. Duminy, however, suggested his side were in a better position to deal with them in T20Is.
“The type of spinners India have, they will get the purchase out of surfaces no matter what the groundsmen produce," said Duminy. "Wrist spinners generally get more turn than what finger spinners produce so you are going to have to see how it pans out. But definitely in this format you will see a more aggressive approach.
“If you look at the T20 cricket around the world, there is naturally a more aggressive approach whether you are facing pace or spin. I think that frees guys up to take the aggressive option, so I don’t see it being any different this time around.”
Another point of concern for South Africa has been the form AB de Villiers - since returning from injury their premier batsman has managed just 62 runs in three outings. Duminy, however, was hopeful that a change in format would bring about a change in approach from the swashbuckling batsman.
"He is there to start, and is obviously a key player for us," said Duminy. "We are going to need him to fire on all cylinders. The standard he sets for himself is a high one on a whole. He prides himself on his performances and he will no doubt be hungry to put in a big performance for the team. I expect nothing less from him as much as he expects nothing less from himself."
