Cape Town Blitz captain Farhaan Behardien caught Chris Morris of the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants in their third game of the Mzantsi Super League at PPC Newlands Cricket Stadium FILE. Former Proteas player Farhaan Behardien believes there is no reason for South Africa to be intimidated by India in their upcoming T20 International series. Picture: Phando Jikelo/Independent Media
Despite their last meeting against India ending in heartbreak in the T20 World Cup final earlier this year, former Proteas player Farhaan Behardien believes there is no reason for South Africa to be intimidated by their opponents in their upcoming T20 International (T20Is) series.
In fact, India will be bringing a team in transition following the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
With the first match scheduled to take place in Durban on Friday, the Proteas will also field a side missing some big names like Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje.
Six of the 15-man Proteas squad are under the age of 25, and that could be cause for some nerves but not according to Behardien who played over 100 limited over internationals for South Africa.
"(Playing against India) is no different to playing against any other nation. I don't think we felt that the occasion was any bigger," Behardien told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interview.
"When you're representing your country, whether you're playing Australia, New Zealand or England, it doesn't matter. I don’t think there was any difference when you're playing against them.”
"Yes, the grounds might be full, but a lot of the guys have played in the IPL and in World Cups which means the occasion is no different. It's just another day.”
The first two matches will take place at sea level, before the final two games will be played in Centurion and Johannesburg.
The conditions shouldn’t be too different hinted Behardien.
"I think in today's game, it doesn't even matter where you play. The batters hit big, and the ball gets hit further. I don't think the highveld versus coastal conditions matter anymore in this day and age. The bats are different, the guys are stronger and fitter," said Behardien.
"I just think there might be a couple of extra spinners in Durban and PE, and then in Joburg and Pretoria, there might be an extra seamer. But India always plays with two spinners no matter where they go, that's just their armour and how they operate."