Kayla Reyneke’s long-time mentor and current South Africa assistant coach, Claire Terblanche, has praised her "calmness under pressure" as the team prepares to host India in a five-match T20I series starting 17 April 2026. Terblanche, who has coached Reyneke since her youth at Western Province, views the India series as a critical test for the young all-rounder.

The coaching staff is preparing for India's high-quality spin attack, which is expected to dominate.Terblanche highlighted Reyneke’s ability to "know where to hit the ball" and her composure, which was evident when she hit match-winning sixes on both her T20I and ODI debuts.Head coach Mandla Mashimbyi noted that while the turnaround from their recent New Zealand tour is quick, the team is focused on refining discipline and "fresh thinking" through new coaching staff additions.

Reyneke is being positioned as a future star and a "dangerous" middle-order weapon. She enters the series with an impressive T20I strike rate of 168.29.Analysts, including Anjum Chopra, have backed India to find a specific strategy just to handle her "onslaught" on the on-side and down the ground.

Claire Terblanche opens up on 2025 ODI World Cup loss

Claire Terblanche, assistant coach for South Africa, recently reflected on the 2025 ODI World Cup final loss to India, admitting that the defeat "still hurts" but serves as a vital lesson for the team's future. South Africa reached their first-ever Women's ODI World Cup final in 2025, held in India. They were defeated by the hosts by 52 runs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Terblanche noted that while the loss is painful, it is now "history" and must be moved past to focus on upcoming challenges.

She described the heartbreak as "external motivation" for the current squad, particularly as they prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup.The coaching staff is using the experience to identify "gaps" in their play, especially when facing high-pressure situations against top-tier teams like India.Terblanche sees the upcoming five-match T20I series against India (starting April 17, 2026) as the perfect opportunity to apply these lessons.