New Delhi, June 3 (IANS)| South Africa captain Temba Bavuma believes that the upcoming five-match T20 series India It will definitely be important for their team to play together for the first time since the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup last year in the United Arab Emirates.
Both India and South Africa were eliminated from the mega event in the Super 10 stage. But the Proteas had a better tournament, winning four out of five matches and crashing out of the semi-finals due to net run rate.
The upcoming T20I series, starting on June 9 and ending on June 19, will serve as a resumption of preparations for the year-end Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia for both South Africa and India.
This will be the third time that South Africa will play a bilateral T20I series in India after October 2015 (won 2–0 by the Proteas) and September 2019 (1–1 draw).
“These games (five matches against India) are definitely important. As a T20 team, we will be together for the first time since the World Cup. I think the experience of being together, we remind ourselves of the good things that we did, how we play cricket and also the new faces that are within the team, to see how those people Can come and add value. It’s an exciting prospect,” Bavuma was quoted as saying by The. Cricket Monthly.
Bavuma said that South Africa will have to improve their batting order if they are to take the trophy.
“If we can get better than our previous performance, we can achieve anything. But there are actually some things we need to do. If I look at my bowling attack, it can be seen as one of the best. Probably with batting we need to add some more in terms of competing with the best.
“A little more stability at the top. The guys in the middle played pretty well. Within games, within the series, guys stepped in at different moments. From a batting perspective, we need more at the top.”
Bavuma admits he hadn’t seen much IPL 2022 but was happy to see his teammates get a chance to play in the tournament.
“It is good to see some of our guys doing well. KG (Kagiso Rabada) is on his way to take the fastest 100 wickets. (Lasith) faster than Malinga. It’s a matter of pride. And Marco Jensen – how he went and performed. Or Aiden (Markram).
“And even young people who have shown their potential. There is a lot to be said about Dewald Brevis. He is an exciting prospect for our cricket. And Tristan Stubbs, go. Nice to see those guys.”
When asked about his hopes of playing in the IPL, Bavuma signed off saying that he would like to experience life in the extraordinary T20 league.
“I want to play there. The stronger my performance, the more realistic the opportunity. I have also developed this fantasy of captaining a team. I don’t know where it comes from. I want to get that experience too. But I need to join a team before that happens!”
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