18 February,2026 10:32 AM IST | New Delhi | Santosh Suri
Albie Morkel (left) with brother Morne during a fishing trip in South Arica. Pic/Albie`s Instagram
Who can forget the brilliant catch Suryakumar Yadav took in Barbados to seal India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph in the final against South Africa? That contest added to the already strong Indo-Protean rivalry.
South Africa's emergence as a strong challenger to the Men in Blue's hegemony is a good sign for the game, given that India's traditional rivals, Pakistan, are hardly the force they used to be. India's recent battles with South Africa have been far more interesting and closer than those against Pakistan. The rivalry is crucial in the context of the ongoing T20 World Cup too, considering that while-ball powerhouses Australia have already made a premature exit.
India and South Africa will face each other in a Super Eight encounter at Ahmedabad on Sunday. And besides the emerging healthy rivalry, there is also a brotherly rivalry between the two teams. Albie Morkel, 44, is a specialist consultant with South Africa, while his younger brother Morne Morkel, 41, is India's bowling coach. Asked about facing his brother, Albie joked, "We don't look at each other," before adding, "Our mother is in a dilemma, whether to support South Africa or India."
Speaking to the media at the Kotla on the eve of their last league match against the UAE on Wednesday, Albie said, "The real tournament begins with the Super Eights. It's good we've played our first three games in Ahmedabad, where the clash with India will take place. That's when the real pressure will start."
Elaborating on the Indo-Protean rivalry, he said: "Over the years, we've built a healthy rivalry with India and the contests between us have been exciting. It's going to be the same and we're geared up to face them at a full house in Ahmedabad. We've had a good run there, winning our three group games, including a tough one against Afghanistan. It's going to be a high-pressure game which will bring out the best in us."
After coming close to losing to Afghanistan in Ahmedabad, South Africa are back at their best. Since then, they have registered a comprehensive win over New
Zealand and are now preparing for the last league game here against the UAE on Wednesday morning.
Seven
No. of games India and SA have played against each other in T20 World Cups; India have won five, while SA have emerged victorious twice
Six
No. of T20Is India have won vs SA (out of 8) after the 2024 T20 World Cup final
3-1
India's identical winning margin in the last two T20I series against SA
