South African middle-order batsman Temba Bavuma believes that India is a formidable team but not an unbeatable side. He has expressed this thought after losing the Mohali T20I on last Wednesday (18th September) night.
The 29-year-old South African cricketer Temba Bavuma made his T20I debut during the Mohali T20I. After the hosts India sent the visitors South Africa to bat first, the visiting team managed to score 149/5 (20 overs). Only the skipper Quinton de Kock (52 runs) and debutant Bavuma (49 runs) scored some positive runs in that innings.
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In reply, the hosts chased down that target in 19 overs after losing three wickets. While the Indian bowlers were very consistent in the first innings, Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan (40 runs) and captain Virat Kohli (72*) made that chase very comfortable for the hosts.
In the post-match press conference, Temba Bavuma has claimed that India is a formidable but still a beatable side.
Bavuma said, “They are a formidable team but I do not think they are unbeatable side.”
I do not see myself as a selfish person – Temba Bavuma
Bavuma made his international debut in December 2014 and has already played 36 Tests and two ODIs. But now he made his T20I debut and scored 49 runs off 43 balls (3 fours and only six).
Talking about his fighting knock in T20I debut, Bavuma said that he always tried to play according to team’s need.
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Bavuma claimed, “I do not see myself as a selfish person. I try and always put the team ahead of all personal ambitions. It is always about the team.”
Bavuma believed that South Africa should manage the competitive first-innings total of 180 runs. Along with the other big hitters, Bavuma also blamed himself for failing to manage properly the late moment of their innings.
He added, “At the half-way stage, I was thinking 180 at least and that would have been a very competitive score. I think we were just not able to get going and I am also to be blamed as I was not really able to get the momentum and all the other big hitters.”
T20I debutant spoke about the spectacular catch of David Miller
After the solid 61 runs partnership for the second wicket between Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, Dhawan lost his wicket due to the brilliant fielding of David Miller. He grabbed that ball at long-on after making successful full-length diving.
Bavuma said about that catch, “I think David Miller’s catch was quite phenomenal. I was at the boundary and thought that it was a six. So, how he managed to get his hands on the ball was spectacular. We really like to be counted as the number one fielding side in the world.”
With this victory, India have taken the 1-0 lead in this three-match T20I series with one to go. The first match of this series at Dharamshala had no result due to the rain washout. While the Mohali T20I was the second game of this series, they will play the final T20I at Bengaluru on this Sunday (22nd September).