The tall and lanky Mpongwana finds himself in the Proteas ODI squad on the back of two solid seasons in the blue-and-white colours of Western Province.
The powerhouses of cricket, India, have brought out their young guns for their two-month-long visit to South Africa.
From the young and exciting T20 stars Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan to the more established Shubman Gill, the Indian selectors have rested the household names of the likes of Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma for the white-ball leg of the tour that gets under way with the first T20 International on Sunday at Kingsmead in Durban (4pm start).
South Africa have followed the same script, resting the often overworked Kagiso Rabada and batter Temba Bavuma for the T20Is and ODIs.
Instead, Rob Walter has called on the services of 23-year-old Western Province all-rounder Mihlali Mpongwana, among a few other youngsters.
Focused on the task at hand this Sunday 🧐
New faces and new opportunities for the Proteas 🏏
Durban are you ready for the first T20I between #SAvIND 🇿🇦🇮🇳#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/DER9K0sMwZ
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 7, 2023
The tall and lanky Mpongwana finds himself in the Proteas ODI squad on the back of two solid seasons in the blue-and-white colours of Western Province.
The highlight of his young career is undoubtedly the century he scored during the final of the Cricket SA One-Day Cup a little over a month ago.
“Excited, nervous, surreal,” Mpongwana said, describing his emotions at having received a maiden national team call-up.
“I didn’t think it would happen this soon. Five years back, I didn’t think that I’d be saying that I’d potentially be making my debut or in the Proteas squad.”
The youngster is currently bracing himself for the fourth and final day of the red-ball series between South Africa A and West Indies A at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Friday.
For any talented youngster, playing in the A-side is a massive step in developing the temperament needed to succeed when the ODI series against India starts later this month.
Mpongwana sees his time with Shukri Conrad at the SA A team as an opportunity to further develop his game.
“The SA A tour against the West Indies A has been a learning curve for me as a young player,” said Mpongwana.
“To come into this more professional set-up in international cricket, the standard of cricket that’s being played, I had to adjust to certain things.
“It’s been a hell of an experience working with the international coaches and things like that. It’s been a good experience for me.
“If I get game time, it’s pretty much the same thing that you have been seeing throughout these past (domestic) seasons in the white-ball format.
“Nothing is going to change … it’s going to be the same brand of cricket that I have been playing.”
Despite all the success, Mpongwana is still keeping a level head. He still aims to dominate domestic cricket to attract more opportunities in the future.
“My goal is to still dominate domestic cricket at this age,” said Mpongwana.
“If something comes up, then it comes. But my goal is to dominate domestic cricket and if something comes internationally, then I’d take it with both hands as an opportunity.”
