South Africa’s flawless run of seven consecutive victories at T20 World Cup 2026 has firmly established them as the team to beat. This dominant streak has officially elevated the Proteas to the status of tournament favorites; however, head coach Shukri Conrad remains unfazed by the growing expectations. He has made it clear that the mounting pressure will not distract his squad as they head into the knockout stages.
Shukri Conrad's bold take on South Africa's 'Choker' tag
Following a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in their final Super 8 match in New Delhi, Conrad addressed the media with a defiant tone. He dismissed the 'choker' label that has historically haunted South African cricket, asserting that his team has moved past those narratives. During his remarks, he even took a sharp, witty jibe at the broadcasters for continuing to lean into that old storyline, signaling a shift in the team's mental toughness.
“There’s always pressure, it’s about what you do with that pressure and how you shift that pressure. As for the ‘C’ word (choker), there’s another one called ‘cupcakes’ that we have to throw in, don’t want to forget that,” Conrad said after the match.
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The coach’s 'cupcake' remark was a pointed reference to a controversial advertisement aired by the tournament's official broadcaster prior to the South Africa vs. India match. The commercial featured a South African fan choking on a cupcake before being offered a bottle of water, a heavy-handed jab at the 'choker' label that has followed the Proteas since they narrowly lost the 2024 title to India. Following significant backlash, the ad was pulled from the air, but the Proteas delivered their own response on the field by crushing the hosts by 76 runs in Ahmedabad.
We will start as favourites against New Zealand: Shukri Conrad
Throughout the 2026 campaign, South Africa has consistently used their performance to silence critics questioning their mental fortitude. By maintaining a perfect winning streak, they have effectively dismantled the narratives of the past. Shukri Conrad remains adamant that his squad is perfectly equipped to handle the pressure of being favorites as they head into their high-stakes semifinal against New Zealand in Kolkata on March 4.
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“I don’t think it (pressure) will change anything. For us, it will be business as usual. We will start as favourites against New Zealand probably because we’re the only unbeaten side in the tournament. But I don’t know if that adds to the pressure. Playing the semifinal is pressure enough. Playing a top side is pressure enough,” he added.