Proteas draw strength from recent ICC success, but remain level-headed ahead of T20 World Cup

Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada says the team is drawing strength from their recent unprecedented success in ICC events, but is treading carefully as they face a new challenge in the 10th edition of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

The landscape of South African cricket has shifted dramatically since the 2024 tournament. In that edition, the Proteas reached their first-ever T20 World Cup final, a feat that continues to motivate captain Aiden Markram’s squad as they arrive in India and Sri Lanka for the 2026 showpiece.

Since that heartbreak in Barbados, the Proteas have reached the pinnacle of the longest format, winning the World Test Championship (WTC) to claim the country’s first ICC trophy since the 1998 Champions Trophy. They followed that historic triumph by drawing a Test series in Pakistan and securing a first Test series win in India in over two decades.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Rabada emphasised the importance of balancing past confidence with present reality.

“I think myself, Aiden, and Shuks [coach Shukri Conrad] and the leadership group would be on the same page," Rabada said. "I think what we've done in the past most definitely will give you motivation and belief that you can do it again because you've simply been there before. Taking confidence from that is pretty normal and natural."

However, the 30-year-old speedster warned against complacency. "In saying that, this is a new tournament. It doesn't mean that you can't take confidence away from the past, but when you are doing well, you don't really think about what's happening. As soon as you start doing poorly, you start to think about all the things that you could be doing wrong."

Rabada suggested that looking back at past successes is a vital tool for overcoming the "tough patches" that naturally occur in tournament cricket. “The best reference is to look at yourself when you were at your best and then ask yourself a few other questions to actually move forward. So I think balancing those two axes is important.”