Stand-in T20 skipper of South Africa JP Duminy said the 1-5 ODI series loss was a reality check for the Proteas and the hosts would rely on fresh faces and an “aggressive mindset” in the new format to counter rampaging India in the three-match T20I series.

After being outplayed by the men in blue in the ODIs, South Africa have completely revamped the T20I squad including as many as six new cricketers in the 14-member squad which will face India in the T20I series starting with the first game in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Also read: Raina left South Africa

During a recent media interaction, Duminy said, “I think the new faces will help. It is something that we spoke about this morning that we will feed off the freshness of new faces around. The format is different. It is a quicker and more aggressive format. And it will naturally bring out the best in us. I am excited to be able to lead. I think leadership naturally brings out the best in me and I enjoy the experience of leading people. I am quite excited by it.”

Talking about the ODI series loss, JP said: “Yes, it has been a dismal one-day series for us where India have outplayed us. That’s something that we will have to take on the chin and realize that we are far from a finished article going into the World Cup a year from now. I think it’s a great reality check for us. It is about each and every player seeing themselves in the mirror and how they can improve, to try and stake a claim for that 15-man squad in a year’s time.”

Also read: When Kuldeep dismissed Duminy

Duminy cited the example of the rain-affected Pink ODI and said that the change in format will help South Africa counter India better. He said, “If I look at Pink Day’s shortened game, the platform was set for almost T20 style of play. I think that type of mindset brought out the best in us. So I am quite excited to see how we go about it in terms of this format now.”

He further added, “Irrespective of who we come up against, I still believe that with new faces around plus guys who have been in the ODI series, it is a squad that can definitely win the series. So the aim is to always compete and win the series, no matter who we come up against.”

South Africa will also have to find a solution for India’s in-form top-order, particularly Virat Kohli who is the form of his life, having smashed as many as 558 runs in an ODI bilateral series. Shikhar Dhawan is also looked in good nick, while Rohit Sharma can never be ignored in limited-overs’ cricket. Duminy opined early wickets will be the key in countering the Indian top-order.

Revealing some plans ahead of the T20I series, “The plan is not only to contain them but to try and get them out especially in this format. Your aim is always going to be to try and take wickets. Wickets will reduce the runs on board and with that mindset, we have good plans in place and hopefully it works out for us.”

Also read: Duminy acknowledges the mistakes 

There is a school of thought that the ODI pitches were more suitable to India’s strengths as wrist spinners Kuldeep Chahal and Yuzvendra Chahal shared 33 wickets between them across six ODIs. Duminy said he expected the pitches to be more even this time around but cautioned that it still won’t be easy to face the Indian wrist spinners.

Describing the same, he said, “If you look at the T20 cricket around the world, there is naturally a more aggressive approach whether you are facing pace or spin. I think that frees guys up to take the aggressive option, so I don’t see it being any different this time around.”