Aiden Markram, the South African T20I captain, said he was glad that star Indian batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would not play in the teams' T20 International series. The veteran pair had recently troubled the Proteas' bowling attack, helping India secure the preceding One Day International series victory with a 2-1 margin.
Sharma contributed two impactful half-centuries while Kohli consistently scored over fifty runs in all three encounters, achieving back-to-back hundreds in the matches at Ranchi and Raipur. Both players showed strong form, which tested the South African side considerably.
Markram admitted he was relieved to avoid another battle with those specific individuals. Still, he quickly noted the current Indian team, even without the seasoned campaigners, was still tough to face. "It’s nice that Virat and Rohit aren’t here, but this is a really good Indian T20I side," Markram told journalists in Cuttack, making it clear he respects the depth of the squad. He knows that winning will require real effort, regardless of who is in the lineup.
The absence of these experienced batsmen doesn't weaken the current Indian squad. Markram pointed out the talent in the younger generation of Indian players, many of whom have shown their skills in domestic leagues and recent international matches.
He said the Proteas would need to be sharp to compete against an Indian T20I team playing with confidence. The focus for South Africa, according to Markram, would be on sticking to their plans and adjusting to the conditions. He stressed that everyone must chip in and stay switched on throughout the series. The upcoming matches are expected to be a competitive battle between two strong cricketing nations.
“Abhi is a great guy, and his talent with the bat is undeniable. He is a match-winner, and capturing his wicket early is pivotal. I have played with him for (Sunrisers) Hyderabad…lovely guy. I can’t give you the secrets of how we are planning against him, but hopefully we’ll not allow him to score big runs,” Markram added.
