Durban, April 16 (NationPress) South Africa's captain Laura Wolvaardt praised the remarkable power of young all-rounder Kayla Reyneke on Thursday, labeling her a unique asset capable of injecting the X-factor into the Proteas' middle-order as they prepare for the five-match T20I series against India starting Friday.

At just 20 years old, Kayla is making a sensational start to her international career, having clinched victory for the Proteas with a six off the last ball during her T20I debut against Pakistan. Moreover, she demonstrated her composure in her ODI debut against New Zealand, again sealing the win with a last-ball six.

“Kayla is incredibly exciting. As an all-rounder, her talent for bowling effective off-spin is something this team has sought for quite some time, acting as a genuine off-spinner. While we have Sune Luus in the mix, Kayla brings a distinct dynamic, offering a different bowling style,” Wolvaardt remarked.

“Her ability to hit sixes at will is a rare find, especially in a young player. That kind of raw power is tough to teach, and I've been working on it for a long time, but she appears to possess it naturally. She is a thrilling, explosive, and destructive player, and I hope she can maintain this level in future games,” Laura noted, responding to a question from IANS during the pre-series press conference.

The Proteas are ushering in a new chapter with a refreshed coaching staff, including batting coach Andrew Puttick, who has prior experience with Afghanistan, and fielding coach Mduduzi Mbhatha. Wolvaardt is optimistic that these new perspectives will help the team overcome past challenges and prepare effectively for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.

“Significant changes are underway for us. The previous coaches had been with us for a long time, and we achieved a lot together by reaching multiple World Cup finals,” she stated.

“However, as Mandla Mashimbyi (head coach) mentioned, it’s about having fresh voices and perspectives. The newcomers are familiar faces, which eased our transition in the initial days,” she added.

This series marks the first contest between the two teams since India narrowly defeated South Africa in the 2025 ODI World Cup final in Navi Mumbai. “It’s an exciting rivalry. Although the World Cup format was different, we had previously beaten them in the group stages, only to fall short in the final, which was disappointing,” she expressed.

“We haven't faced them since that final, so we’re definitely looking forward to a rematch. We play against them regularly, so we know their strengths and have plans in place for several of their players, which is promising,” she said.

Regarding her batting position, Wolvaardt remained open to either opening or batting at number three, noting that the opening combination has yet to be finalized. “Personally, I don’t have a preference. The responsibilities are quite similar, and I’ve performed in the number three position during various leagues this past year. I can adapt to whatever the coach decides for this series,” she stated.

The captain also praised Annerie Dercksen, who excelled in T20Is against New Zealand. “Dercksen has been outstanding. She has recently found excellent form and exhibits control in her batting, which is thrilling. She has been fantastic in the 4-5 batting positions in T20s, showcasing her power, especially in the last stages of the innings,” she commented.

Reflecting on the technical adjustments needed post-New Zealand tour, Laura highlighted the importance of executing better in bowling and adopting a more proactive batting approach.

“We’re addressing some issues and identifying areas for improvement. In bowling, execution has been a challenge. We’ve had a few misplaced deliveries in nearly every over that didn’t align with our plan,” she noted.

“Thus, our recent focus has been on precision in our bowling and landing the ball in the desired areas consistently. With batters, we need to adopt a more aggressive mindset, rotating the strike effectively, and being prepared with various shots. We've been diligently practicing specific shots over the last few days,” she elaborated.

“Additionally, maintaining a proper batting position is crucial. Some of us tend to lose our shape during play, so we’re keen to refine that aspect, which should benefit our performance in the upcoming matches,” she concluded.

Despite the absence of experienced all-rounders Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk, Laura expressed excitement over the young fast-bowling talent available to her. “We have an abundance of young fast bowlers, which is thrilling. Experiences like the New Zealand tour will undoubtedly enhance bowlers like Ayanda Hlubi,” she said.

“We witnessed Tumi swinging the ball effectively in New Zealand, which was encouraging. Ayanda showcased good pace and bounce. It’s crucial to bring all these elements together and discover the right combination, ensuring we can execute better in this series,” she concluded.