Down Memory Lane: The last time the Proteas were in India for the T20 World Cup

Almost a decade ago, India hosted the 2016 T20 World Cup, and South Africa were there with Faf du Plessis leading the team. The Proteas would return home empty handed after failing to reach the knockout stages. 

Ahead of ICC Men's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka – starting on Saturday — Ongama Gcwabe goes down memory lane, reliving all of South Africa's four fixtures from the 2016 edition in what was a miserable campaign for the nation.

The Proteas will hope to avoid a similar fate this time around when they start their campaign on Monday against Canada in a group that also includes Afghanistan, New Zealand and the UAE.

SA vs England @ Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

England won by two wickets with four balls remaining

The Proteas went down narrowly to England, who completed the second-highest successful chase in T20Is and the highest in T20 World Cup history, at the time. 

On a perfect batting surface, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock and JP Duminy's half-centuries propelled the Proteas' to 229/4, before Jason Roy (43 off 16 balls) tore into Dale Steyn (0/35 from two overs) and a young Kagiso Rabada (2/50 from four overs), which set the platform for Joe Root's sublime 83 off 44 balls.

The defeat left the Proteas' with precious little breathing room for the remainder of the competition, while it ignited England's campaign, which ran all the way to the final.

SA v Afghanistan @ Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

South Africa won by 37 runs

The Proteas set up victory through contributions from AB de Villiers (64), Quinton de Kock (45) and Du Plessis (41), as the batters passed 200 runs for the second consecutive game, finishing on 209/5. 

They were once again the victims of an opening assault when Mohammad Shahzad thrashed 44 off only 19 balls, as the Afghans raced to 50/0 within the first four overs. But once Shahzad was clean bowled by Chris Morris (4/27), the rest of the Afghanistan batters capitulated.

They simply did not have the firepower to maintain the challenge with Imran Tahir (2/24), Kyle Abbott (2/36) and Rabada (2/37), sealing off the victory, giving South Africa hopes of reaching the semi-finals. 

SA v West Indies @ VCA Stadium, Nagpur

West Indies won by three wickets with two balls remaining

This match was a virtual quarter-final with West Indies having lost to Afghanistan and the Proteas to England earlier in the tournament. 

The Proteas were restricted to 122/8 on a slow-paced and turning Nagpur track with Chris Gayle taking the ball and claiming 2/17 in his three overs. Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo also picking up two wickets each. 

All the Proteas bowlers fought gamely with leg-spinner Imran Tahir leading the way with 2/13 from his four overs, but eventual final hero Marlon Samuels held the innings together with a solid 43 off 44 balls to edge the Windies over the line.

Again, South Africa had shown skill and fight, but could not to get the job done. 

SA v Sri Lanka @ Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi

South Africa won by eight wickets

Looking to redeem themselves, the Proteas asserted their dominance over Sri Lanka, thrashing them by eight wickets in Delhi. 

The Proteas bowlers, led by Abbott (2/14), Farhaan Behardien (2/15) and Aaron Phangiso (2/26), dismantled the Sri Lanka batting unit for 120. Amla (56 not out) and De Villiers (20 not out) helped chase down the total with 14 balls remaining. 

Despite the victory, it was not enough to propel the Proteas to the semi-final stage of the tournament.