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Gautam Gambhir has shared his perspectives on the formidable task that lies ahead for South Africa in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to kick off on June 1.
South Africa’s road to redemption
After an unexpected loss to the Netherlands in their final group-stage match during the T20 World Cup 2022, South Africa fell short of reaching the semi-finals. Placed in Group D alongside Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Netherlands for the 2024 edition, the Proteas are gearing up for an intense competition set to take place in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA).
Netherlands as South Africa’s adversary in recent times
In recent global events, the Netherlands has emerged as a significant adversary for South Africa. Beyond their victory in the 2022 T20 World Cup, the Dutch handed the Proteas a 38 runs defeat in the ODI World Cup 2023. Despite this setback, Temba Bavuma and his team displayed resilience, securing a spot in the semi-finals of the tournament.
Also READ: Here are West Indies’ complete fixtures for T20 World Cup 2024
Gautam Gambhir’s insights on South Africa’s challenge in T20 World Cup 2024
Participating in a discussion on Star Sports, Gambhir acknowledged the challenging path that awaits the Proteas. The former Indian cricketer expressed his hope for South Africa to qualify, emphasizing the value of facing stronger teams in the subsequent rounds. Recognizing the limited opportunities for comebacks in T20 cricket, Gambhir urged the Proteas to stay vigilant and deliver their best performance in the initial stages of the tournament.
“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,” Gambhir said.
“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 play good cricket and reach the Super 8 at least,” the cricketer turned commentator concluded.
