South Africa all-rounder Nadine de Klerk believes her team has put their disappointing start to the ICC Women’s World Cup behind them and is fully focused on bouncing back against hosts India. The Proteas were bowled out for just 69 in their tournament opener against England, a defeat that de Klerk described as an “eye-opener,” but one that has since fueled the team’s resolve.
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s clash, de Klerk said South Africa has taken valuable lessons from that loss and is approaching the upcoming match with renewed determination. “I think it was just an eye-opener, and we have to be ready for every single game we play,” she said. “It was unexpected and we got blown away, which is never nice. But everyone took it personally and we’ve moved on quickly. We’re much better than 69 all out.”
De Klerk acknowledged that facing India in home conditions would be a tough test, but expressed confidence in her team’s preparation and mindset. “It’s a really exciting challenge,” she said. “The key will be to start well — either take a couple of wickets early or gain momentum to silence the crowd. When you bowl first, you want to strike early and put teams on the back foot. When you bat first, it’s about not losing quick wickets in the powerplay.”
India, meanwhile, have enjoyed a strong start to their World Cup campaign, largely thanks to their disciplined bowling unit. De Klerk said South Africa was well aware of the threat posed by India’s attack, especially their spinners. “India has a quality bowling attack. Their new-ball bowlers have been quite successful, even in conditions that suit spin. But we do expect them to be spin-heavy — it’s been that way whenever we’ve played them,” she noted. “I think whoever plays spin the best will come out on top.”
A key focus for South Africa will be stopping Indian opener Smriti Mandhana, who has a formidable record against them — 906 runs in 18 ODIs at an average of 53.29. “She’s a quality player,” de Klerk admitted. “We’ll look to keep her quiet or put her under pressure early. Breaking that opening stand with Pratika Rawal will be crucial.”
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