South African Cricket Legend Barry Richards Talks About the Upcoming India vs. South Africa Match and the Team's Chances

On the eve of Sunday's highly anticipated match at Eden Gardens, South African icon Barry Richards, one of the most prolific and talented batsmen in the history of the game, spoke with The Telegraph.

Take-outs:

Q: Watching South Africa play at home may have been inspired by their performance in this edition. Have you been paying close attention to what they did?

A: Although the timings haven't been ideal for us, I've made it a point to watch the highlights. Quinny, also known as Quinton de Kock, and I have been closely following his performances and find them to be quite interesting. He is not under any pressure to perform right now, and his results show that. He is under less pressure now that he will only be focusing on T20s and won't be playing ODIs.

Does this mean the team will suffer greatly from his retirement?

A: Indeed... It creates a hole in the side, and he is a top-tier player. He will be sorely missed in South Africa.

What are your feelings about Sunday's India vs. South Africa game?

A: As it stands right now, it's most likely the final version without really being. You understand what I mean. These two teams appear to be the best ones on the pitch.

What has changed this time around for South Africa? Is it the way others, like Aiden Markram or Rassie Van der Dussen, bat or how Quinton does it?

A: We've always believed that Markram hasn't performed to his full ability or demonstrated his true talent. He has always produced quality 20s and 30s, but I believe he has improved his batting and realized he needs to accomplish more. You can rely on Rassie Van Der, who is among the best strikers in world cricket. He doesn't come at you with much force and plays a little differently... Returns to the crease and makes a strike. He has therefore been very successful in smaller Indian grounds. And David Miller is another... When you give him ten or fifteen overs left, he can be extremely effective. Every time we take the field, we have enough ingredients to make more than 350.

Q: South Africa has trouble staying consistent. In this edition, they were defeated by the Netherlands. Why, exactly?

A: It's one of those situations where you anticipate winning but end up losing a few wickets and feeling under pressure. India would have noticed that collapse, no doubt. Perhaps that is the best course of action, and we can apply pressure to them in a similar way. Many more people need to be persuaded that they are competent at tracking down totals. They appear to be more affected when they play teams with lower rankings. They don't appear to be playing good cricket if they find themselves at 15/2 and Quinton is lost. It simply isn't effective. So, if they win the toss on Sunday, it will be interesting to watch what they do.

Are India's wickets helping them?

A: The wickets will definitely turn a little bit when they get to the final. You should budget for that when visiting India as it is to be expected. Rob Walter, their coach, has had an impact that hasn't received much attention. Despite his preference to blend in, he has been incredibly successful.

What is your assessment of Heinrich Klaasen, who has proven to be one of the World Cup's best power hitters?

A: I've been really impressed with how cleanly he strikes the ball. Compared to most players, he uses a slightly different technique. He consistently gets under the ball and seizes opportunities. He has therefore been quite successful.

Is the form of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma crucial for India?

A: We always thought India would perform well domestically. Since they have been here for a while, Rohit and Virat are familiar with their class. Thus, there's always this expectation that they'll perform well at a significant occasion. It hasn't come as a huge surprise. Remember that India has also been a very effective bowler.

Q: Their cause has also been aided by Marco Jansen emerging as a capable all-around player at number seven. Your ideas?

A: He's really impressed me, and that's one of the main reasons South Africa bats so well. His ability to play some solid shots lower in the order has been a huge asset. He will develop into a very talented all-around player eventually.

Is this the best opportunity for South Africa?

A: Yes, you have the best chance, but India will always be extremely tough to defeat. Given the reasonable expectations, I believe South Africa can succeed. They must carry it out.

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