Legendary South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis has highlighted the crucial role the upcoming SA20 tournament will play in preparing the Proteas for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. His comments come as the Aiden Markram-led side gears up for a five-match T20I series against India, starting next week.
SA20: The Perfect World Cup Warm-Up
Kallis emphasised that while the domestic T20 competition will not make players try any harder, its timing is ideal. The SA20 is scheduled to conclude just a couple of weeks before the global tournament, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in 2026. "I think it's going to play a big role," Kallis stated in an interview with the ICC. "I don't think it'll make the guys play any harder or anything like that, because the guys would have put 100 percent effort in, in any case. But I do think it's fantastic preparation, looking forward to that World Cup."
This strategic scheduling is seen as a significant advantage for South Africa, who are currently ranked fifth in ICC T20 rankings but are considered strong contenders. The team carries the heartbreak of a narrow loss to India in the thrilling final of the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.
Marco Jansen: The Premium All-Rounder's Rise
Kallis also reserved high praise for young all-rounder Marco Jansen, whose recent performances have been transformative. Jansen, now ranked number two among ICC Test all-rounders, was the Player of the Match in South Africa's recent Test series-clinching victory in Guwahati. He scored a crucial 93 in the first innings and took seven wickets in the match.
"He's had a massive year, hasn't he. He's always had the potential. It was just a matter of figuring his game out," Kallis remarked. "He's obviously figured it out now and is getting a good balance. He's always been magnificent with the ball. Perhaps in previous years, he didn't quite fulfil his talent with the bat. He's certainly turned that around now. He's a premium all-rounder now."
Jansen himself credited the team environment and coach Shukri Conrad for his and the team's success. "Winning a Test match and series in India is very special," Jansen said after the Guwahati Test. "We just spoke about doing the simple things well... I just give all the credit to Shuks. He told me to go out there and express myself."
Building Towards 2026
The road to the 2026 World Cup presents both opportunity and challenge for South Africa. The team has not won a T20I series in their last five attempts and has seen the retirement of 2024 T20 World Cup hero Heinrich Klaasen. The upcoming series against India, featuring all-rounders like Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, and Corbin Bosch alongside Jansen, is a key step in their rebuilding process.
Kallis's insights underscore a clear pathway: use the high-intensity, franchise-based SA20 as the final tuning ground, and build a balanced squad around emerging world-class talents like Marco Jansen. With this blueprint, South Africa will aim to finally cross the final hurdle and clinch their maiden T20 World Cup title in 2026.
