Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir has expressed hope that South Africa will conquer the group stage and qualify for the Super 8 phase in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. However, he acknowledged that the Proteas are put in a tough group and it won’t be easy for them against some of the tough teams in the competition. The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is scheduled to commence on June 1.
South Africa’s 2022 T20 World Cup campaign ended with a shocking defeat against the Netherlands after which they failed to qualify for the semi-finals. This time they have got a tough group with the Netherlands again being in their group to give them trouble. They are put together with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands and Nepal in Group D of this year’s T20 megaevent which will be jointly hosted by the West Indies and the United States.
Gautam Gambhir was asked during a discussion on Star Sports whether South Africa is placed in the ‘Group of Death’, to which he responded, “It seems like but who knows South Africa might survive that death this time. I hope they do that because you want to see good teams in the Super 8. You want to see a competition where you are challenged.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator added, “The group you have mentioned, it’s not going to be easy for South Africa because you have limited opportunity to make a comeback in the T20 format. If someone puts you under pressure, you don’t have time to make a comeback. I hope South Africa plays good cricket and reaches the Super 8 at least.”
South Africa Will Hope To Reach The Knockouts In The T20 World Cup
The Netherlands are South Africa’s biggest headache in the ICC events. The Men In Orange have beaten the Proteas in two back-to-back ICC events in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. However, the Proteas managed to qualify for the semi-finals in the latter. South Africa is a strong cricketing nation but they fail to win in ICC events and that has earned them the tag of ‘Chokers’.
The Proteas have failed to qualify for the semi-finals in the T20 World Cup since 2014 when they last qualified for the round but were beaten by India. The T20 World Cup has always brought the worst in them and this is one of the dreaded tournaments for South Africa. The inaugural T20 World Cup was played in South Africa back in 2007 but still, they are searching for their first-ever final in the tournament’s history.
The T20 World Cup this year can be South Africa’s year and they look like a strong side in T20Is. They recently drew the T20I series against India 1-1 after the first match was washed out in rain. Aiden Markram, the 2014 U-19 World Cup-winning captain leads the Proteas in the shortest format and he is an able leader who can make a big difference in their World Cup campaign. The Proteas face Sri Lanka in their opening encounter of the World Cup.
