South African cricket is enjoying one of its most dominant eras across both men’s and women’s cricket. Over the past two years, the men’s side has reached the T20 World Cup 2024 final and lifted the coveted World Test Championship trophy, showcasing their rise across formats. Meanwhile, the women’s team has been equally impressive, appearing in consecutive T20 World Cup finals in 2023 and 2024, and reaching the ODI World Cup final this year.

With Laura Wolvaardt at the helm, the Proteas women look closer than ever to securing their maiden world title. Reflecting on South Africa’s transformation, legendary fielder and former international Jonty Rhodes shared deep insights into how the modern Proteas mindset is vastly different from earlier generations.

Jonty Rhodes highlighted that during his playing days two decades ago, South Africa often arrived in India overwhelmed by the challenge ahead, especially on turning tracks. Negative thoughts, doubts about whether the ball would spin past the bat, and concerns about taking 20 wickets used to affect players even before the series began.

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“Twenty years ago, when I was still playing cricket, if we travelled to India, our nerves were already shot,” Jonty Rhodes told Sports Today. “We were uncomfortable, unsure of our ability to take wickets, and often didn’t genuinely believe we could win.”

In contrast, Rhodes believes the current South African squad carries a far more confident and composed outlook. Despite their occasional batting struggles, particularly on rank turners, he praised their ability to extract results through disciplined bowling and improved spin quality. Their recent win in the first Test at Eden Gardens, on a sharply turning pitch, is a testament to that growth.

He credited Temba Bavuma’s understated yet effective leadership for instilling belief in a team without many global superstars. According to Rhodes, the strength of this Proteas unit lies not in flashy names but in players who understand their roles and execute them with precision.

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“Believing you can compete with India in India says everything about their mindset,” he noted. “It’s a quiet captaincy, no big egos—just a team working together. And on tough surfaces, those teams often emerge victorious.”