Exclusive: Wiaan Mulder Embraces Finisher Role as He Gears Up for First ICC Champions Trophy

Proteas all-rounder, Wiaan Mulder, relishes the opportunity to play in his first-ever ICC event in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan. 

Doing the hard yards in SA & UK

Mulder has come a long way since making his One Day International debut for South Africa at the tender age of 19 against Bangladesh in East London.

After being in and out of the side due to inconsistency, the 28-year-old now finds himself in the Proteas squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

To get back into the team, the all-rounder has developed his game extensively in domestic cricket in South Africa and in the United Kingdom where he represents Leicestershire.

After dominating both domestic systems these past two years, the all-rounder is in line to play a vital part in the Proteas side in what will be his second ICC event, having been a part of the Proteas squad during the 2021 T20 World Cup.

"I've had success in 50 over cricket back home and in England," Mulder told SportsBoom in an exclusive interview. 

"It's been a dream of mine to play in an ICC event. I had an opportunity to go to the 2021 World Cup, I didn't play a game, but to be able to see how big ICC tournaments are, how seriously people take it and how much pressure there is. I've worked really hard on my game for quite some time."

Role in the Champions Trophy

Eight years after making his ODI debut, Mulder is not only confident in his game but is also clearer in terms of the role he is entrusted with within the ODI set-up.

For the Champions Trophy, Mulder told SportsBoom that Proteas limited-overs coach Rob Walter is expecting him to play the finisher role with the bat while taking up more responsibility with the newer ball.

"My role in this team, after speaking to Rob, is pretty much batting after (David) Miller and (Heinrich Klaasen) Klassy. Filling that role, trying to finish games, building partnerships in that middle-to-end phase and then being able to bowl with the newer ball. I'm not too specifically worried about the role," said Mulder.

"If I get into - 'maybe this role is not for me, and maybe another role is where I ideally should be' - I think that can limit your mindset, and that doesn't give me the best chance in any situation."

"The role, generally, I don't think I'll bat upfront. It'll be batting in the middle and bowling upfront through to the middle, and maybe there will be one or two overs at the death. I think we've got death specialists so I don't know how much of that I will do going forward."

Form heading into CT

Mulder has been in good touch this summer for South Africa with both bat and ball, particularly in Test cricket. The all-rounder brought up his maiden Test century in tough batting conditions in Bangladesh, a knock that marked his coming of age in international cricket.

As a result, the 28-year-old has on occasion been promoted higher up in the batting order and given more responsibility with the new ball as a genuine wicket-taker. 

"In Test cricket, I've been able to put up my hand more regularly than before and I think that's why I've been able to start a couple more Tests and have a little bit more responsibility in the Tests that I've played," Mulder told SportsBoom.com. 

"I've had a little bit more trust from the captain and the coach to go out there and perform under pressure and in scenarios in the match where the team relies on me."

"That's why I play the game. I've always wanted to play in big games and try to put in match-winning performances. It would be nice to do that in ODI cricket."

With South Africa set to play Afghanistan in Karachi on Friday, Mulder might just get his first taste of an ICC event.