Constant changes in team combinations have dominated discussions ever since India head coach Gautam Gambhir stressed the importance of flexibility in modern-day cricket. While India’s approach has invited debate, South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has insisted that the Proteas’ frequent shuffling is driven by a clear plan rather than uncertainty.

South Africa made three changes to their XI for the second T20I in Mullanpur after suffering a heavy defeat in Cuttack. The tweaks paid immediate dividends as Ottneil Baartman starred with a four-wicket haul, powering the Proteas to a convincing 51-run victory and leveling the series ahead of the third T20I in Dharamshala.

‘Not changes for the sake of change,’ says South Africa coach Conrad

“It might look as if we’re slightly unsure given the amount of changes we make every match,” Conrad explained. “But it’s certainly not changes for the sake of change. We have a pretty good idea of what our World Cup squad will look like.”

The South African coach highlighted workload management as a key factor behind the rotation policy, pointing out that several players have been on tour since the Test series and will also be involved in the upcoming SA20 league. Conrad added that the team management is keen to give everyone opportunities while assessing what combinations work best.

“It’s about managing players and giving everybody a good run — seeing what works and what doesn’t. But we’re pretty clear about what we want,” he said.

Dharamshala has historically been a happy hunting ground for South Africa in T20Is, with the Proteas having defeated India at the venue nearly a decade ago. However, Conrad made it clear that his side will not be fixated on setting a specific batting target.

“I think sometimes you come to a ground where historically the scores are high and you feel you need to pitch at a certain mark, and that can get you into trouble,” he said. “We don’t have any specific target in mind, but we’re pretty confident in our all-round game.”

South Africa will look to build on their momentum when they face India in the third T20I on Sunday, December 14, with the aim of taking the lead in the series.