10 Reasons why Indian cricket fans love South Africa
The quintessential Indian fan swears by the fact that he/she loves their team and supports them during victory or defeat. But dig deeper, and one would know about the fire that burns in the heart of every Indian cricket fan when their team fails to deliver the desired results.
Having said that, the average fan loves supporting other teams too like South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka. But Indian fans seem to have a soft corner towards South Africa and some even proclaim The Proteas to be their second-favourite team.
Here are 10 reasons why Indian fans love South Africa:-
#1 The passionate South African cricket team
Ever since South Africa started playing cricket, they have always managed to enthrall the crowd with their batting, bowling and fielding displays, making them one of the most exciting teams to watch in cricket.
Their team composition too has been lethal over the years, with their cricketers consistently rated among the best in the world. Also proven to be the most talented team on many occasions, it comes as no surprise when Indian fans are seen cheering for the Proteas during their matches against Australia or Pakistan.
#2 AB de Villiers
The name needs no introduction for an Indian cricket fan. Thanks to the advent of the Indian Premier League, fans did get to know more about the ‘super-human’ and his extraordinary abilities with the bat, which were previously unheard of.
De Villiers played many brilliant knocks during his stint with Delhi Daredevils first, and then the Royal Challenges Bangalore. No wonder then that AB has been the most popular overseas player in the IPL.
#3 Dale Steyn’s fiery spells
Here’s one cricketer who loves playing against India. The Indian fans love him because of his brilliant bowling and the special spells he comes up with against the Indians. Another immensely popular figure in the IPL, Steyn has had successful stints with southern teams like RCB and later Sunrisers Hyderabad, and has a huge fan base.
#4 2015 World Cup heartbreak
Ask any Indian fan if he was disappointed with India’s semi-final loss in the World Cup and chances are he/she will pinpoint that they were left shattered with South Africa’s loss more than their own team’s.
Most of the Indian fans were passionately rooting for South Africa in their World Cup semi-final against New Zealand and were evidently left heart-broken when the Proteas lost a thriller, courtesy a Grant Elliot blitzkrieg. Rain and D/L method had come back to haunt the South Africans again and vanish all their hopes of lifting the coveted cup.
#5 Equal support during matches
Whenever India play South Africa, fans come out in support of the Proteas too, in addition to their own team. They love watching batsmen like Amla, De Villiers, Miller, Du Plessis and Duminy hit those big shots and their bowlers like Tahir, Steyn and Morkel in good form. And of course, the likes of de Villiers and du Plessis diving all over the park and grabbing those breath-taking catches, is a sight to behold.
#6 Jonty Rhodes and the South African fielding
The image of Jonty Rhodes diving in thin air and running out Inzamam-ul-Haq is still fresh in the minds of the Indian fans. The former cricketer who has a huge fan-following in the sub-continent redefined fielding in world cricket. Over the years, many South African fielders have come close to emulating Rhodes’ fielding, like de Villiers and du Plessis, who have defied gravity on many occasions and have taken some spectacular catches.
#7 Huge number of fans
Many loyal Indian fans admit to South Africa being their second favourite team in cricket. The sub-continent boasts of a huge number of South African fans who support the team in international matches and tournaments played by the Proteas.
#8 South African cricketers in the IPL
South African cricketers are one of the most popular group of overseas players in the IPL, apart from the Carribean players. Many Protean cricketers have been an essential part of their respective franchise in IPL. Players like de Villiers, Miller, Morkel and Steyn have produced match-winning performances for their teams and also have a massive fan following.
#9 Lance Klusener’s moment in the 1999 World Cup semi-final
Man of the Tournament in the 1999 World Cup, Klusener completely changed the fortunes of South Africa in the tournament. Even in that heart-wrenching semi final against Australia, Klusener fought like a wounded warrior, almost pushing his side through to the finals, until that Allan Donald moment, which sealed the fate of his side and ended his spectacular World Cup campaign.
#10 Jonty Rhodes’ love affair with India
Jonty has been part of Mumbai Indians coaching staff for a while now. For someone with a big fan base in India, in his own words, Jonty admits that India is his second home and even went on to name his newborn daughter ‘India’, in honour of the country he loves. Even after so many years, Jonty’s fans haven’t forgotten the fielder who mesmerised the world with his physics-defying fielding and still garners wide respect around the country.