India vs South Africa | Have come to 'try hard and play hard', reveals Rassie van der Dussen

With South Africa going through a transition phase, it would be fair to say the two teams are unevenly matched, with India looking much more formidable both on paper and off the field, especially so in the game’s longer format. However, a young Rassie van der Dussen is not one to back down from stiff competition.

"We got a young squad now but we came here to compete in the traditional South African way, try hard, play hard. We have young guys in the squad and we are not going to stand back for anyone. That's the emphasis, results go your way or not, that's sometimes you are not sure what's going to happen. We knew it's going to be tough, India is one of the strongest team in the world, and we know we are embracing their challenge," he was quoted exclaiming by News18 on the eve of the final T20.

South Africa had last visited India three years ago, only to lose the four match Test series 3-0, with their struggle against spinners being exploited to the maximum by the Indians.

"The last Test tour did not go well but the guys who were here have learnt a lot of lessons and we definitely are better prepared this time," he said.

With Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir retired, the team has an inexperienced bowling unit as was evident in the first game when Virat Kohli hit them all over the park to become the highest ever run getter in T20Is. He went past his teammate Rohit Sharma who is now in second, while his opening partner is not that far away either with an impressive 1377 runs to his name.

"They are probably three of the best T20 batters in the world and the world has ever seen. Virat and Rohit are the two leading run scorers at the moment in international T20 cricket. It's a great challenge for young bowlers coming here and bowling to these guys. But like I said, we know what the challenge is. If we want to get a win, we have to nullify this kind of players," van der Dussen said addressing the trio.

He was one of the few bright spots in a dull World Cup for the Proteas, having come away as the team’s leading batsmen and is currently serving as the deputy to Quinton de Kock in the T20s.

"It's been an unbelievable 12 to 14 months for me. The challenge for me going forward would be to maintain the form that I have had and keep improving as a player and winning games for the team. That's something I pride myself in," he claimed.

With only a little more than a year to go for the World T20, preparations have already started for the marquee event.

"We have a young team. Guys are absolving and learning everything quickly. We have got some 18 more games leading to the T20 World Cup next year. The challenge for us is to learn those lessons very quickly and make sure in some years time, we are one of the top sides of the world," he signed off.