In Mumbai, Aiden Markram was "brave" and "tactically astute" in leading South Africa to their first appearance in the T20 World Cup final, which they lost narrowly to India last week in Barbados, said former captain Graeme Smith on Wednesday.
South Africa had a near-perfect T20 World Cup campaign under Markram's captaincy with their only defeat coming in the final, when India beat the Proteas by seven runs.
"Aiden was particularly good during the tournament. He was tactically astute, had good plans and was brave enough to make important decisions and then get all of his players to commit to them," Smith said in a press release.
"Of course, we have seen Aiden captain in this way before over the course of the last two SA20 seasons, leading the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back championship titles, but he has now transferred this experience to the international level." Smith added, who is the commissioner of the SA20 league.
Smith said SA20, in its two seasons so far, has been able to prepare South African cricketers to be ready for the pressure and challenges at the highest level.
"From the beginning, the league, together with Cricket South Africa, has wanted to give South African cricketers the opportunity to be exposed to a higher level of domestic cricket where players can rub shoulders and learn from some of the best in the game . has to offer," he said.
"The players are exposed to high-pressure, competitive cricket and this experience stood them in good stead in the United States and the Caribbean," said one of South Africa's top captains.
Smith praised Ottneil Baartman for his impressive performances, especially in the group stage, in which the right-handed bowler produced miserable innings.
"Ottneil is the epitome of a SA20 success story. A relatively unknown player before SA20 who has transformed and gained confidence through experiences with Sunrisers Eastern Cape is phenomenal," Smith said.
"Despite playing in his first T20 World Cup, he backed up his skills under immense pressure. The four wickets against Holland and the last one against Nepal definitely stand out," he added.
South Africa had a near-perfect T20 World Cup campaign under Markram's captaincy with their only defeat coming in the final, when India beat the Proteas by seven runs.
"Aiden was particularly good during the tournament. He was tactically astute, had good plans and was brave enough to make important decisions and then get all of his players to commit to them," Smith said in a press release.
"Of course, we have seen Aiden captain in this way before over the course of the last two SA20 seasons, leading the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back championship titles, but he has now transferred this experience to the international level." Smith added, who is the commissioner of the SA20 league.
Smith said SA20, in its two seasons so far, has been able to prepare South African cricketers to be ready for the pressure and challenges at the highest level.
"From the beginning, the league, together with Cricket South Africa, has wanted to give South African cricketers the opportunity to be exposed to a higher level of domestic cricket where players can rub shoulders and learn from some of the best in the game . has to offer," he said.
"The players are exposed to high-pressure, competitive cricket and this experience stood them in good stead in the United States and the Caribbean," said one of South Africa's top captains.
Smith praised Ottneil Baartman for his impressive performances, especially in the group stage, in which the right-handed bowler produced miserable innings.
"Ottneil is the epitome of a SA20 success story. A relatively unknown player before SA20 who has transformed and gained confidence through experiences with Sunrisers Eastern Cape is phenomenal," Smith said.
"Despite playing in his first T20 World Cup, he backed up his skills under immense pressure. The four wickets against Holland and the last one against Nepal definitely stand out," he added.