Faf du Plessis, Siya Kolisi meet Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

Former South Africa player Faf du Plessis heaped praise on ace India pacer Jasprit Bumrah after the bowler's heroics helped Team India secure a seven-run win over England in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal on Thursday at Mumbai's Wankhede. Du Plessis said having Bumrah in your team is "like having a genie."

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said that the outcome of a T20 match is often shaped in the opening overs, stressing that teams that lose the powerplay frequently struggle to recover.

Former India Captain Anil Kumble believes India's experimentation over the past 18 months has strengthened their T20 depth, while former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis highlighted potential tactical vulnerabilities on flat pitches.

For three matches in this T20 World Cup during the group stage, the world waited for Abhishek, the top-ranked T20I batter, to open his run tally. When he finally did it with a four against South Africa, he did not look anywhere close to his dominant, authoritative self. While waiting for the ball to come in his hitting arc and taking his time, he swung his bat at almost every opportunity possible with hopes of landing a meaty hit towards the boundary, but he could score just a 12-ball 15. The clash against Zimbabwe will be a massive chance for him to make an impact, the same opposition against whom he cracked his first-ever international ton during his second T20I match back in 2024.

Former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis praised West Indies spin duo of Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie for their performance against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup, but believes bowling against South Africa and India will be the real test for the two spinners.