T20 World Cup 2026: Real buzz and energy to South Africa camp after India win, says Maharaj
South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj felt that the win against India had given his team a huge dose of confidence.
“Coming back after the win against India, there was a real sort of energy and buzz to our camp. I mean, you probably beat the best side in the competition if you look at it,” said Maharaj. “But we’re not getting carried away. We still know that there’s a lot of cricket to be played in this tournament. So, [we are] dusting ourselves off and doing things that we can do better from that game while focusing on the positives.”
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A highlight of the Proteas’ victory was their recovery from a precarious start, and the 36-year-old said it showed the team’s spirit. “I think it speaks to the character within the lineup, and that’s a huge thing for us. In previous World Cups, we never crossed over those small moments. If the character is strong in such situations, it propels us to go further on in this tournament,” said Maharaj.
Meanwhile, West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer expressed confidence that the team’s performance so far will inspire youngsters back home.
“I think we have inspired the next generation of cricketers. Also, the people of the Caribbean are very happy with how we are playing, and obviously, we want to go for it in the tournament,” said Reifer.
Published on Feb 25, 2026
