T20 World Cup: Three areas the Proteas need to polish ahead of showpiece event

The Proteas are set to take on India in an ICC Men's T20 World Cup warm-up match at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday (starts 3.30pm). It will be the South African's final opportunity to prepare for the showpiece event ahead of their opening match on Monday against Canada.

Here, cricket reporter Ongama Gcwabe highlights three areas the Proteas should look to improve on ahead of that Group D encounter, in that a pool that also includes Afghanistan, New Zealand, and the UAE.

KG's Form

Naturally, having sustained a rib injury before the first Test in India late last year — an injury that subsequently ruled him out of the multi-format tour — Kagiso Rabada is yet to return to his best since he returned to action during the recently concluded Betway SA20.

The quick took nine wickets in eight matches during the competition and went at over nine runs per over, a set of numbers one would not associate with such a quality fast bowler.

During the recently concluded West Indies series, particularly the second T20I in Centurion where every bowler leaked runs on what was a good batting wicket, Rabada showed glimpses of his brilliance as he registered figures of 2/35 in four overs.

Tasked with leading South Africa's bowling attack, the Proteas need Rabada firing again, and there is no better time to get him charged up than against India during the warm-up match on Wednesday.

The Accumulator

T20 cricket is not all about big hits.

Teams need one or two batters that could play the accumulator role, taking the game as deep as possible and backing themselves as a batting unit to cash in during the death overs.

The Proteas require such a batter at the World Cup, and it could be Ryan Rickelton at No 3 in the batting-order. Since assuming that batting position during the West Indies series, the left-handed batter has proved that he has the skill and the game for the role.

The accumulator role becomes even more important during the knockout stage of the competition, when being calculating with the bat trumps the 'hit and hope for the best' approach of many batting units in T20 cricket.

Should the Proteas get this role right, they will be a tough team to beat, especially given that the team has an abundance of explosive batters.

It's Miller-time

After suffering an injury scare during the final stages of the recently concluded SA20 — a niggle to the groin area while fielding in Paarl — David Miller passed an initial fitness test just before the squad departed for India, a feat that the Proteas coaching staff will be pleased with considering the abundance of experience he brings.

As much as Quinton de Kock is invaluable for the Proteas, Miller also carries a similar stature, as he has almost 16 years of international cricket experience.

The 36-year-old is known for stepping up in big matches in World Cups, and going into the T20 World Cup in India, the Proteas will need his calm head as they continue the search for the country's first World Cup trophy.

Moreover, Miller needs some time in the middle, and Wednesday's warm-up affords him the perfect opportunity to stress test his form ... assuming that he is fully recovered, that is.