South Africa will look to rediscover consistency when they kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against Canada on Monday, with both teams eager to make an early statement in the tournament.

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The Proteas have endured a mixed run since finishing runners-up at the 2024 T20 World Cup, winning just 12 of their 32 matches. However, their recent World Test Championship triumph has injected fresh belief into the squad as they aim to challenge for another global title.

Injuries to Donovan Ferreira and Tony de Zorzi have opened the door for Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs, both of whom have earned late inclusions. South Africa’s bowling attack will revolve around Kagiso Rabada’s pace on batting-friendly surfaces in India and Sri Lanka, while Keshav Maharaj will lead the spin department. With the bat, Quinton de Kock and Dewald Brevis remain key players to watch.

Captain Aiden Markram insisted that the team is not dwelling on their heartbreaking loss in the 2024 final. He emphasised the importance of focusing on the present, noting that in the T20 format, a few standout performances can change the course of any match.

Canada, meanwhile, entered the tournament short on high-level match practice but full of confidence after an unbeaten run through the Americas Regional Qualifiers. Led by 23-year-old Dilpreet Bajwa, who recently took over captaincy, the side is aiming to punch above its weight in its second consecutive T20 World Cup appearance.

Bajwa highlighted the team’s preparation in Sri Lanka and expressed confidence in their combinations despite limited recent exposure to top-tier cricket.

Zimbabwe vs Oman in Colombo

Elsewhere, Zimbabwe begin their campaign against Oman in Colombo, determined to make up for missing the previous edition. Veteran Sikandar Raza and Brendan Taylor provide experience, while young batter Brian Bennett, who starred in the African Qualifier, could prove to be a game-changer.

Zimbabwe will look to build early momentum before facing group favourites Australia in their next match.

Oman, appearing in their fourth T20 World Cup, will rely on captain Jatinder Singh at the top of the order, supported by wicketkeeper Vinayak Shukla. Their bowling attack, featuring Jiten Ramanandi, Sufyan Mehmood and Nadeem Khan, has been a consistent strength and could test Zimbabwe’s batting lineup.

Match Timings:
South Africa vs Canada: 7:00 pm IST

(By PTI Inputs)