Encouraging Signs from Saffas in IPL

The Indian Premier League is giving valuable insight into the state of the cream of our talent in South African cricket, writes Alasdair Fraser.

What a pleasure to finally watch world-class cricket that involves a few of our local favourites. It has been shots fired on social media and hammer and tongs in the boardroom. All we want as cricket fanatics is action on the field.

And what action we got. The opening match was of particular interest from a South African perspective with the Proteas white-ball captain, Quinton de Kock, opening the batting with aplomb for the Mumbai Indians and the Proteas former skipper, Faf du Plessis, and Lungi Ngidi in the canary yellow of Chennai Super Kings.

Forget about the empty stadiums. This one was to savour – especially Ngidi’s performance with the ball. It may take a little while for the players to get used to the silence – a direct contrast to the packed Indian coliseums normally seen in the IPL – but Ngidi was explosive and determined from the start.

His partnership with MS Dhoni behind the stumps was the most notable. As a youngster with as much talent as Ngidi, the lessons learned from such an experienced and wise Dhoni will go a long way in furthering the Proteas’ pace attack going forward.

Ngidi is already a seasoned campaigner in the international scene, yet this opening salvo in the IPL showed his hunger and willingness to learn. Dhoni has nothing left to achieve in the cricket, but his encyclopaedic knowledge of the game being sponged by a fired-up Ngidi was there for all to see. Ngidi the student. Dhoni the master. ‘The Karate Kid’ has nothing on these two.

Du Plessis has been sublime with the willow, smashing back-to-back half-centuries – with his 72 in a losing cause the most notable. It gives invaluable insight into the state of his current form, which is encouraging, given the lack of match practise our players have had.

The second match saw Kagiso Rabada steal the show in the Super Over that showcased his stealth in bowling at the death. After taking 2/28 in his four overs at seven runs apiece when he was the first-change bowler to Anrich Nortje, Rabada was the hero of the day as he took 2/2 in the Super Over to deny the Kings XI from requiring just three runs to win. Incredible.

If there was any doubt as to whether our South African are lacking in match awareness in pressure situations, then rest assured that our local superstars are delivering. Of course, there is more to come but the signs are very positive looking through green and gold-tinted lenses.

And then there is the one and only AB de Villiers. Hitting the ball as crisply as fresh lettuce, the ‘ABD’ machine was in sublime form for the RCB. You look at that side with Virat Kohli, Aaron Finch, Umesh Yadav, and a rejuvenated Dale Steyn, and cannot keep wondering why they haven’t won a championship yet.

There is enough in the RCB narrative to write a Bollywood classic and the best way to begin their challenge in earnest to get some wins under their belt. They have a strong side, but it’s the ‘ABD’ show that will get fans around the world going. Let us all hope it continues because there is nothing better than watching AB de Villiers in full flight and the freedom to play his own game – his way.

The most important aspect to take from this latest edition of the IPL is that South African cricket is a valuable product in the ICC universe – one that needs to be guided through this turbulent time. Perhaps the ICC will realise this before it is too late because our stars are a valuable commodity and it would be a crying shame if the international arena is robbed of these talents due to political interference in our game.