Team South Africa might not be the top contender for the 2021 T20 World Cup for some, but the team under Temba Bavuma is quite upbeat to perform better. On the back of three successive series wins, Bavuma is confident to make even the best team sweat in UAE. In an open conversation with Adam Drury, the captain recovering from a thumb injury, Keshav Maharaj and Rassie van der Dussen shared insight about preparedness and possible challenges between the team and the trophy.

This T20 is different in many ways, especially the safe and secure environment that makes practise and preparation very challenging. Speaking about preparedness and mental status, Rassie van Der Dussen, who is staying with his wife in a bio-secure environment of an Abu Dhabi hotel, told Drury, “We’re very well looked after.”

Netflix binge-watching might be the best option for the SA team, but Van Der Dussen believes, “staying sane in the hours in between their practise and preparation is key to their performance.”

In response to the lack of options available inside the T20 bubble, Van Der Dussen said, “You’ve got to keep active, obviously. I’ve got lots of fitness toys to play with and there are facilities in the hotel.”

“The gym area on the bottom floor of the hotel doubles as a team room and medical area,” he added.

For spinner Keshav Maharaj the makeshift setup is “not ideal”, but he is doing everything possible to make the best of the unusual preparation, which is a common challenge for all players.

“It is what it is,” says Maharaj adding, “There are a lot of differences so I work hard to make myself feel as at home as possible.”

Speaking about his obsession with cleanliness, he told the Betway reporter that in the absence of cleaners in the room he spends time making himself more comfortable by keeping the room in check.

“But an entirely isolated existence is not healthy, either,” he added.

The SA cricket team might be under some pressure as hearing of Social Justice and Nation-Building resume on October 18, the same day the tournament begins. The team is coping with the pressure well by gathering in the dining area and watching sports together.

They watched South Africa beat New Zealand 31-29 in The Rugby Championship. “Watching other South Africa teams connects us to home,” said Maharaj.

“This squad is capable of replicating the Springboks’ success,” said Maharaj.

Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, and others joined the squad fully charged up after the IPL. With Reeza Hendricks and Dwaine Pretorius in great form in the last 12 months, the SA team is fully confident to do their best in the UAE under head coach Mark Boucher.

The team under Temba Bavuma and staff might be relatively new to the stage like the T20 World Cup, but 2021 results show that the squad is expected to maintain the upward trajectory. Victories in the Caribbean followed by successful Irish and Sri Lankan tour shows the team is benefitting from the year-long preparation for the big stage.

On team’s experience, Van Der Dussen told the Betway reporter, “A year ago we were certainly less experienced. We’re in a good place now, and ready to fire”

“We’ve had a good year. We’ve been in different conditions and we’ve adapted really well,” he added.

The team under Temba Bavuma, who became permanent T20 captain in March, is doing surprisingly well.

“It came as a surprise to me,” he told Bavuma, adding that there were fear and anxiety initially as to how he would take the team to new heights.

“Actually I’ve really enjoyed it,” he added.

On coordination among team members, he said, “I’m lucky that I’ve played with lots of the guys from school level so the understanding is there and the respect is there.”

“I feel that they are behind me,” he added.

Playing with greats like AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, and Morne Morkel could be of great help for Bavuma.

“I draw a lot of inspiration from Amla, particularly,” he said adding, “He is similar to me as a player, too, in the sense that he wasn’t considered a classic T20 player but remodeled his game.”

The T20 game is all about balancing cricketing skills, improvising quickly, and maintaining calmness under pressure. For Van der Dussen mental fitness is as important as physical fitness so he is avoiding burnouts ahead of busy weeks.

“You put in all the hours that you need to,” he said adding “and then on the game night it’s pretty intense.

“I get my practise done and then mentally switch off so that next time I’m on the field my mind is 100 percent ready to go,” said Van der Dussen.

So, it is better to find something more exciting and motivating on Netflix to let the mind relax and recharge for the big day.