IPL players bring valuable info to the Proteas, says Bjorn Fortuin

Familiarity with the conditions in the case of South Africans playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is going to be valuable for the Proteas during the upcoming T20 World Cup, says spinner Bjorn Fortuin.

The World Cup begins in two weeks time with a mouthwatering clash between SA and Australia in Abu Dhabi, at the same venues where the IPL is being completed.

SA have Lungi Ngidi at Chennai Super Kings, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortjé at Delhi Capitals, Quinton de Kock at Mumbai Indians, Aiden Markram at Punjab Kings and Tabraiz Shamsi and David Miller are with Rajasthan Royals.

These players are possibly going to start against Australia in the tournament opener and Fortuin said they bring valuable information and would have adapted to the hot conditions.

“Information that they are going to provide to us as a team is going to be of immense value,” said Fortuin from the Proteas camp in Abu Dhabi, where they are in quarantine until Monday.

“They are playing against some of the guys who will be at the tournament as well, so they will bring a lot of information that will help us  prepare for the first game and beyond.

“Apart from the information  they are going to bring, they are all world-class players and each one are match winners in their own right. They will be a massive boost for us as a squad and they bring more new energy.”

The 26-year-old left-arm spinner, who will be playing in his first big International Cricket Council competition, said his selection to the squad was a reward for hard work and patience.

“The big thing for me was just trusting the process, backing my abilities and making sure that when the opportunity comes I am ready for it. I am fortunate that I have a few of my Lions teammates with me.

“They have been with me on the journey from the beginning. They have helped in making sure that my mindset is at the right place so that whenever the opportunities come I am ready.”

Fortuin, who has one ODI and 13 T20s under his belt since 2019, also revealed that there were times when he thought his dream of playing for the Proteas would never materialise.

“There were some challenging times where I thought that this goal was quite far to reach, but I stayed patient and true to my game, and it  helped the process.

“I was quite happy when I was told that I have been selected for the T20 World Cup and it didn’t really sink in until we got together in camp in Durban where I saw the excitement on the faces of the other guys.

“You could see that the guys were gearing up for a massive challenge and it was time to get down to some serious business. I am just happy to represent my country at this stage and we will do our best to bring the trophy home.”