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South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has urged his team to embrace the pressure of being tournament favourites as they prepare for their T20 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.
Following a decisive five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in New Delhi, the Proteas finished the Super Eights as the only undefeated side in the competition.
This dominant run has allowed the team to distance itself from the “chokers” label that has historically plagued South African cricket during the knockout stages of major global events.
Conrad emphasised that his squad is not interested in the comfort of being underdogs, noting that while the lack of expectation makes that role easier, a championship-calibre team must learn to perform as frontrunners.
The coach highlighted that preparation for Wednesday’s clash in Kolkata will remain consistent, despite the outside noise.
He believes the experience of finishing as runners-up in the 2024 final has provided the players with the mental fortitude necessary to navigate the high-stakes environment of a World Cup semi-final.
The team’s success in this edition has been driven by a well-oiled unit led by captain Aiden Markram.
Markram has been a force at the crease, amassing 268 runs with an aggressive strike rate of over 175.
Conrad praised his captain’s leadership and performance, while also crediting a firing batting lineup and a bowling attack that has remained on top of their game throughout the tournament. These combined efforts have already led to “statement” wins over defending champions India and the West Indies.
Having secured their first major ICC trophy by winning the World Test Championship in June 2025, the Proteas are now focused on ending their drought in the white-ball format.
Conrad maintained a pragmatic view of their journey, asserting that if a team continues to reach semi-finals and finals, they will eventually break through for a win.
As they face a New Zealand side that narrowly advanced on net run rate, South Africa remain resolute in their goal of finally bringing home a World Cup title.
