Silencing 130,000 Indians ... Quinton de Kock, Proteas ready for Ahmedabad cauldron

Wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock says the Proteas are settled as a unit, something that bodes well for them as they brace for a crunch ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eights clash against co-hosts India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

With captain Aiden Markram at the helm, and senior players Quinton de Kock, David Miller and Kagiso Rabada alongside him, the Proteas seem to be in a good space. Markram has a lot of experienced players that he can rely on for guidance and advice, especially during high-pressure moments at the ongoing T20 World Cup.

In an engagement with the reporters on Saturday, De Kock mentioned that the players are confident, as they build towards a high-pressure game against India, who are also unbeaten in the tournament.

The Narendra Modi Stadium, with its 130,000-plus capacity, will be buzzing with India supporters cheering for their team. However, players such as De Kock, Miller and Rabada have experienced it all in international cricket.

“The team is quite settled,” De Kock told the reporters on Saturday. “I've settled down quite nicely.”

De Kock has Markram as a partner at the top of the order in the ongoing showpiece event, a change in batting position for Markram as he had batted in the middle-order in previous T20 World Cups. As a result, Markram has been in fine form for the Proteas thus far, as he has brought up two half-centuries, including an unbeaten 86 against New Zealand.

In the Powerplay, Markram has been explosive, putting opposition bowling attacks under immense pressure. De Kock reckons that the opening position suits Markram best and that the clarity he has batting with at the top of the order has played a part in his excellent form.

Moreover, De Kock highlighted that Markram’s leadership also allows the players to be themselves.

“I think it is just clarity in his role. Before, he never used to open the batting; he batted at three, four, and five, so he always had to adapt,” said De Kock. “As an opening batter, it's pretty much one sort of thing you can do, so I think it's easier for him to deal with. In our team, we just try and be more consistent in the way we go about things. He's tried to let the players be ourselves.”

South Africa have played three matches in Ahmedabad in the group stage of the competition and have played at different times of the day. With the clash set to take place in the very same stadium on Sunday, the Proteas are going to play in familiar territory, and know the conditions quite well.

“I think it does help quite a bit (that SA have played three matches in Ahmedabad). We've played a day game and a night game so we kind of understand the conditions. But I don't think it means too much because the Indian team's played here and a lot of them have played here their whole careers. I don't think it plays that much of a difference at the end of the day.”

The stakes are high for the Proteas as they look to progress to the next stage of the tournament and it all begins on Sunday.

The clash between South Africa and India is scheduled to get underway at 3.30pm SA time.