Proteas T20 World Cup: Aiden Markram confirms No 6 battle ahead of Canada opener

"It's almost locked in, although the No 6 position is still a straight shoot-out between Jason Smith and Tristan Stubbs," Markram said ahead of the Group D clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium (3:30pm local time). "Both of them are in good form and hitting the ball really well, so whichever way we go, we're picking a player who is performing and impactful at that role."

Stubbs was a late addition to the squad following Donovan Ferreira's injury, but the Sunrisers Eastern Cape skipper has since impressed. He led his team to the Betway SA20 title with an unbeaten 63 in the final at Newlands and recently struck 45 not out off just 21 balls in a warm-up match against India in Navi Mumbai. Smith, meanwhile, has been equally potent, scoring 35 off 23 balls against India and an explosive 26 off 10 deliveries against the West Indies in a rain-affected T20I at the Wanderers.

Both players also offer part-time bowling options, which could provide flexibility for Markram if his frontline bowlers are under pressure. "It's great to have that option," he added. "We've had conversations with both of them; they've been doing a bit of bowling work just in case we need it. Cricket can be unpredictable, and having those options is always useful."

The competition for No 6 previously saw Smith and Stubbs playing together during the West Indies series, but that was largely due to David Miller managing an injury sustained in the SA20. Miller has now returned to full fitness and is expected to slot in at No 5. Markram is delighted to have the veteran back in the mix.

"He was initially frustrated by the niggle, but he's now in a really good space," Markram said. "He's been training hard, doing all the right work with the physios, and he's hitting the ball really well. Having David Miller confident and excited is a huge positive for the team."

Markram also stressed the importance of preparation against all teams, including lesser-known sides like Canada. "Coming into this World Cup, I didn't know too much about Canada, but we've done our homework now," he said. "We've already seen close contests in this competition, so no game is straightforward. If we play our best cricket, we give ourselves a great chance of a positive result."

Buoyed by their World Test Championship triumph over Australia at Lord's last year, the Proteas aim to carry that confidence into the T20 format. South Africa's Group D opponents include Canada, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and the UAE, with only the top two advancing to the Super Eights.

The Proteas' final XI will be announced at the toss on Monday, but one thing is clear: the battle between Smith and Stubbs for No 6 promises to be one of the tournament's first intriguing storylines.