Proteas hint change to playing XI as they search for disciplined bowling performance against Blackcaps

There is a lot at stake in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup clash between South Africa and New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Saturday. 

The team that wins the clash secures qualification for the next phase of the tournament, while the other team will have to wait a little longer to learn of their fate. 

The Kiwis have quite the reputation of spoiling a South African party, with the standout memory being the 2015 World Cup semi-final, where the Blackcaps knocked out AB de Villiers' Proteas, shattering their dream of winning South Africa's first World Cup trophy. 

Thus far, in the ongoing T20 World Cup, Proteas captain Aiden Markram has led South Africa to two victories in as many matches. 

However, South Africa has a lot of improvements to make, especially with the ball, having had a mediocre tournament thus far, despite their unbeaten status. 

The Proteas have bowled a tally of 28 extras in the opening two matches, including 23 wides and four No-balls, a number that one would not associate with a bowling attack that includes the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi. 

Markram reiterated the need to do better with the ball if they are to get the job done against New Zealand. 

"First and foremost, (we need) discipline (with the ball). Not just from the No-balls or anything like that, but 22 extras, I think it's been now in two games, and it's a lot of runs in this format," Markram told the reporters on Friday. 

"That can hurt you a lot in the future. So that's first and foremost where a lot of the chats have been."

Markram hinted that they may need to make changes to the playing XI. After all, conditions for a night game tend to change to those of a day game. 

And given that South Africa played an additional spinner during the day-game against Afghanistan and sacrificed seamer Corbin Bosch, who played the night game against Canada, the Proteas might lean in the same direction for the New Zealand game. 

Spin-bowling all-rounder George Linde, who played against Afghanistan, might have to sit out, with Markram and coach Shukri Conrad having plenty of seam-bowling options to choose from as a replacement, including Bosch, who, in addition to seam, also lengthens the batting line-up.

The young Kwena Maphaka, who brings a different dynamic to the attack in that he is a left-arm quick, is available, and so is the experienced Anrich Nortje. 

"We haven't announced the team just yet. But from a spin point of view at night, I think it plays less of a threat," Markram said. 

"So, that'll be part of the conversations. If the dew comes in, again, it's tough for the spinner. So it's pretty simple to work it out. But we'll confirm all of that with everyone."

Having been able to hold their nerves during the high-intensity encounter against Afghanistan earlier this week, which was decided on a double super over, the Proteas are full of confidence. 

Markram highlighted that they might not want to find themselves playing in a super over again, but should it happen, they know who to deploy to fight for the team, courtesy of the Afghanistan double super over victory. 

"You can't really practise super overs, so you have to go through them and experience them as a team. And again, we just got over the line, but at least you saw some really good things from our batting point of view," he said.

"So, we definitely got a bit more clarity now that we've played in two of them back-to-back. If we were to play in another one, hopefully we don't have to. But if we were to, we've got a good idea of the guys who can put their hands up for us."

The clash between South Africa and New Zealand is scheduled to get underway at 3:30 pm SAST on Saturday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.