Scrolling through Proteas Women’s star Nonkululeko Mlaba’s social media pages locating a cricket post is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Instead, it looks more like an influencer’s Instagram with Mlaba posing in urban hip fashionable attire for the most part. And if it's not that, she’s showing off her technical sponsor in some new gym kit.
It’s therefore no surprise that Mlaba loved the last ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE where she could spend hours in the mega malls of Dubai - the global capital of fashion and designer labels.
“I loved Dubai … I was doing my things,” Mlaba exclusively told Independent Media.
“I think maybe it was the environment. Or maybe because I was in Dubai. You know, in Dubai I get to meet my friends.
“So, I was training for hours and then I would just go to the mall, you know.
“I really enjoyed being in Dubai. As much as I knew that I was there for work. But, you know, I could just be myself. Enjoying myself.”
Being content off the field certainly paid dividends on the field with the left-arm spinner claiming a record 12 wickets at an average of 11.33 in the tournament. The 24-year-old from KwaMashu in KwaZulu-Natal became the first Protea to take more than 10 wickets in a global competition.
Mlaba has certainly travelled a long path since her tentative international debut back in 2019 and is now one of the most experienced players in the Proteas Women’s team dressingroom.
But how does she stay ahead of the pack with the opposition constantly analysing her gameplans?
“I think for me, when I'm bowling, I just want the batters to hit me. You know, I just want to give them that challenge,” Mlaba said.
“I want you to hit me, and if you don't hit me, then I strike! So, that's basically it. I also like the competition.”
Friday Mood! ✨
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) March 14, 2025
One step at a time on the journey that leads to success 🏏.
Let’s finish the week strong💪😄.#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/eOL58NYRXh
It is another big year ahead for the Proteas, who are hoping to go one better at the ICC World Cup in India after two consecutive ICC T20 World Cup final defeats.
Having toured both Pakistan and India in recent times, the Proteas will be further exposed to subcontinental conditions when they head to Sri Lanka next month for a tri-series with the hosts and India.
It will be Mlaba’s first visit to Sri Lanka and she is hoping for the conditions at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to be equally spin friendly as it was in Dubai.
“I've never been to Sri Lanka. It is my first time,” she said.
“People say it's similar to Pakistan and India. Obviously, the conditions will be sweaty and hot.
“Hopefully, it's going to be like Dubai. I love to play in the grounds that are spin-friendly because that's when I get to perform more.”