I take issue with reports of the Proteas first match in T20 World Cup that claim the Proteas were altogether out played by India. Were they watching the same match? Yes, we were beaten but to describe it as an entirely one-sided affair is ludicrous.

We can actually take some encouragement from the match. India took the game away from us in two periods, Yuvraj and Raina’s partnership and our openers overly cautious beginning. Loots Bosman seemed to struggle with the sluggish pitch and could not adjust himself. Suresh Riana conversely, struggled early on to get the ball away but once he played himself in, he put on an awe-inspiring batting display. His 100, brought up emphatically with a six off Albie Morkel, has made him the first Indian to score a century in international T20 cricket. With Gambhir out through illness and Sehwag out through injury, Raina assuaged any doubts about the inexperienced Indian upper order.

Our defeat on Sunday may well stand us in good stead for the rest of the tournament. We have only to notch up a victory against Afghanistan to enter the Super 8 phase of the competition but have been able to experiment with team selection against a top notch Indian side. Leaving Johan Botha out of the team on Sunday was a curious decision but well explained when Roelof bowled just one over. Questions have to be asked about Loots’ place in the side. While he certainly is talented and on his day can take the game away from the best of opponents,is he a better option than Herschelle?

Being perennial under achievers in tournaments, we hope that the relatively quiet build we've enjoyed and freedom from the ‘favourites’ label will steer our cause to a successful tournament.

The defeat against India may well have stunned our expectant optimism but we’re not South Africans if we don’t fight to the end. Forever Proteas.