South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma is enjoying his team’s success in the World Cup, but questions about the “chokers tag” continue to arise. Despite being ranked second in the points table with only one loss in seven matches, South Africa is still labeled as chokers. When asked about his team’s plans to avoid choking against the table-topping India in the upcoming match, Bavuma responded sharply, stating that such tags wouldn’t be used for the Indian team even if they fail to win the tournament after winning all seven matches.
Bavuma expressed his uncertainty about how to answer the question, stating that if South Africa loses, it wouldn’t necessarily be considered choking. He also questioned whether the same label would be applied to India if they were to lose. Bavuma emphasized that both teams are in-form and it’s a matter of which team breaks first and is able to exploit the weakness of the other. He acknowledged the pressure moments in the World Cup but revealed that the word “choking” hasn’t come up in their training sessions.
South Africa is currently on a four-match winning streak and will face India, led by Rohit Sharma, in a top-of-the-table clash at the Eden Gardens. Bavuma mentioned that Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja have been key players in the middle phase of the game. He believes that South Africa has performed well against spin in recent years, but facing Yadav and Jadeja will still be a challenge for their batters.
Bavuma highlighted the strength of India’s bowling attack, especially with the inclusion of pacer Mohammed Shami. He acknowledged the need for South Africa to bring their best game to counter India’s bowling.
In conclusion, Bavuma is confident in his team’s abilities and believes they can overcome any challenges they face. The Proteas will rely on the positive energy within the team as they take on India in this crucial match.
