Proteas focused on getting better, and not on ex-boss Rob Walter's intel ahead of KIWI clash, says Aiden Markram

Proteas captain Aiden Markram emphasised that the team is not focused on the advantage that New Zealand have in that their current head coach, Rob Walter, is South Africa's former coach. 

Building up to South Africa's clash against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, one of the pressing conversations was how New Zealand have the added advantage in that their current head coach is South Africa's ex-boss, Rob Walter. 

Walter coached South Africa's limited-overs teams for about two years before he stepped down about a year ago in an attempt to take on the New Zealand head coach role and be closer to his family, which is also based in New Zealand. 

With that in mind, New Zealand head into Saturday's 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup clash with an acute understanding of the Proteas players' strengths and weaknesses, a feat that many considered as South Africa's biggest challenge heading into the encounter. 

However, Markram, without dismissing the clear advantage, clarified that the team's focus is entirely on themselves and getting better as a team, and not on Walter and how his knowledge of the Proteas players could be an advantage for the Blackcaps. 

"We actually haven't (thought about Walter). He'll know all of us pretty well, how each of us operates, things that bring out the best in us, and things that could challenge us," Markram told the reporters on Friday. 

"We are at a stage now as a team where I still don't think we are quite near our best, so a lot of the focus is there.

"If we can keep getting better and play at the fullest of our potential as a team, then I feel like the result will take care of itself."

Whether Walter's knowledge of the Proteas team's strengths and weaknesses will work in the Blackcaps' favour remains to be seen. 

The clash between the two teams is scheduled to get underway at 3:30 pm SAST and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.