Proteas vs New Zealand: Can Shukri Conrad outsmart former SA white-ball boss Rob Walter?

The Proteas have had an ideal start to their 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign in India, having beaten Canada convincingly and fought tooth and nail for a double super over victory over Afghanistan in Ahmedabad earlier this week.

From the broadcaster’s and fans’ point of view, the double super over victory over Afghanistan made for an entertaining encounter. As a result, that clash could easily be the most entertaining of the tournament. It had all the drama, the ebbs and flows of an exciting T20 match.

However, much like in boxing or Mixed Martial Arts, being tagged as a fighter with a strong chin — meaning you can take punches — is never a good trait. Such a fighter could be a promoter’s and a broadcaster’s dream, and a box office entertainer for the fans, but their careers tend to be short due to the physical damage they endure, and they rarely go down in history as one of the most decorated athletes.

The Proteas have all the traits, but will not want to put themselves in that sort of situation too often as they did against Afghanistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium earlier this week. They should have won that match without breaking much sweat. However, mistakes from big players in big moments dragged the match into a double super over — one that, in all honesty, shouldn’t have happened in the first place.

This is a conversation that Proteas coach Shukri Conrad and captain Aiden Markram will most certainly have with the team heading into the New Zealand clash, to emphasise the importance of being on point with the execution with both bat and ball.

Especially given that New Zealand have shown good form thus far in the tournament, having beaten Afghanistan by five wickets with 13 balls to spare and the United Arab Emirates by ten wickets with 28 balls to spare.

Moreover, the Black Caps have an added advantage. They have intel on the Proteas team, given that their coach, Rob Walter, was coaching the Proteas for two years until less than a year ago, when he walked away from the post to take on the New Zealand head coach role.

Having taken the Proteas to their first-ever World Cup final during the 2024 T20 World Cup, Walter knows the strengths and weaknesses of the Proteas players and will certainly use all the advantages he has to secure a victory and qualification to the next stage of the showpiece event.

And despite having beaten both Canada and Afghanistan, the Proteas can still find themselves ousted in the group stage of the tournament — although it is unlikely — making the New Zealand clash as important as any they have played thus far.

“It’s a tough group with New Zealand and Afghanistan. New Zealand is a different kettle of fish. They've got all their bases covered with spin, seam and powerful batting as well. So, it'll be a good contest,” Rickelton told Independent Media, showing nothing but respect for the Black Caps.

“New Zealand are a lot more traditional, I think. So, I guess we know what to expect with regard to them. They are quite similar to us. But again, no teams are underrated. Everyone has a fair and a really good chance at competing and beating every team here and winning the World Cup.

“So, no game will be taken lightly, but we'll try not to delve too much into the opposition and try to focus on the things that we're good at. We know we have a good side, and if we play to our potential and capability, then we hopefully will be on the right side of the result.”

Since Walter has taken over the New Zealand head coach role, South Africa have yet to win a T20I match against the Black Caps, having lost three out of three during a tri-series in Zimbabwe last winter. However, in all fairness, that series was Conrad’s first in international T20 cricket. Since then, the coach has settled into his role and so has his team, a feat that will most likely bode well for the Proteas on Saturday.

The clash is scheduled to get underway at 3.30pm on Saturday in Ahmedabad.