Captain Quinton de Kock is eager to inspire a relatively inexperienced Proteas squad during this month’s three T20Is against India.

De Kock will lead the team in the absence of batsman Faf du Plessis. The squad is lined with four players uncapped at T20I level – all-rounder George Linde, spinner Bjorn Fortuin, fast bowler Anrich Nortje and batsman Temba Bavuma.

‘Coming into this series, we’ve got a lot of new players. Win or lose, I just want the guys to keep competing, keep fighting. As long as they keep doing that, I’m sure we’ll be in good hands. We’ve got quite a young team, so there will be a lot of energy. Looking forward to that,’ said De Kock.

The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala will host the first T20I on Sunday. Four years ago, the Proteas beat India in the shortest format at this venue, despite a superb century from batsman Rohit Sharma.

India posted a final total of 199-5, after which the tourists reached 200-3 on the back of brisk half-centuries from the now retired AB de Villiers and JP Duminy. De Kock didn’t play.

‘I haven’t played here myself. I’ve been here before, but I haven’t played here. The last time we were here, the wicket did play very well. I think Sharma got a ton here, but we ended up chasing it down,’ he added.

‘So, in the one game I’ve experienced here, it could be a good wicket. But we’re coming into the unknown, so we’ll have to assess quickly, and then just adapt.’

Photo: Gallo Images