South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad believes the recent T20I contest against India could be a preview of a much bigger stage in the future. Speaking after India’s 30-run win in the fifth T20I to seal the series 3-1, Conrad admitted there is still work to be done but remained optimistic about the road ahead.
He said :
“We’ve got some work to do still, there’s no doubt. However, the good thing is that the boys have a month of SA20 ahead of them, which will also be really good preparation in honing their skills to ensure that when the West Indies arrive on our shores, we’re ready for them. And then, obviously, there’s the World Cup, which is the big thing. So whilst we didn’t get the results we wanted here in the (T20I) series, I’d like to think this might be the World Cup’s finalists (of 2024) in the next World Cup as well. I really hope so.”
High Praise For India’s All-Round Strength
Shukri Conrad did not hold back while assessing the quality of the Indian side, especially after they extended their unbeaten home series run. “(India are a) helluva side. You need to be on top of your game all the time,” he said, underlining how relentless the hosts were throughout the series. He pointed out how India’s aggressive batting consistently put pressure on bowlers from the outset.
“The way they came out with the bat and constantly put bowlers under pressure from ball No 1… they have (also) got a few match-winners with the ball,” Conrad explained. When asked whether this could be considered the best Indian team ever, his response was clear and honest. “But to answer your question, I can’t think of a better side to be brutally honest, so they must rank right up there,” he added.
Hardik Pandya’s Difference And Tour Reflections
While acknowledging the threat posed by India’s bowlers, Conrad identified Hardik Pandya as the key difference between the two teams. “Taking nothing away from (Jasprit) Bumrah, I think Hardik has been the difference in the two teams. His knock tonight was the difference between us winning and losing.”
He continued :
“Look, there’s a reason why he’s one of the best in the world in this format… I don’t know who the man of the series is out there, but I’ll be very surprised if it’s not him. It’s been a wonderful tour… You learn a lot about yourself and obviously, the game and conditions. We’ve got to make sure that we come back in a few months’ time and try and topple them.”
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