Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has questioned South African skipper Temba Bavuma’s place in the playing 11 after missing out on the marquee clash against defending champions England on Sunday. The Proteas skipper missed their last game due to illness.
In the Proteas’ decisive 229-run victory, Reeza Hendricks, who took his spot at the top of the order, made the most of the occasion by hammering a 75-ball 85 and it will be interesting to see whether South Africa team management plays Temba Bavuma in the difficult conditions on Mumbai.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra feels that England made a mistake by asking the mighty South African team to bat first in the game. He also questioned the availability of Temba Bavuma in the game and feels that the South African opening pair is set in the game against the defending champions.
“It is Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The pitch is good for batting here. South Africa scored 399 in the last match. England made a mistake by asking them to bat first and they started hitting. Temba Bavuma didn’t play there. Don’t know if he will be available here,” he added.
“Will he be played if he is available? That’s the big question because Reeza Hendricks has done well and Quinton de Kock has already scored two centuries. So will you make Reeza sit out? You shouldn’t do that,” Aakash Chopra said.
Bavuma has played three innings in the current ODI World Cup and scored just 59 runs. Even if he is totally healthy for the match against Bangladesh, the South African team management may opt to rest him in the game ahead of the big matches against Pakistan, New Zealand, and India.
Rassie van der Dussen Has Also Scored Runs And In The Last Match – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra feels that Rassie van der Dussen has done exceedingly well at sealing his spot in the middle order followed by Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, and David Miller in the batting lineup, and reckons that there is no place for the Pakistan skipper in the team.
“Rassie van der Dussen comes at No. 3. He has also scored runs, he has scored a century, and scored runs in the last match as well. Then comes Aiden Markram, who was the stand-in captain. Then Heinrich Klaasen, who just destroys everyone, and David Miller and Marco Jansen. Sorry Temba, there is no place getting created for you,” Aakash Chopra added.
South Africa team has been at their destructive best in the batting posting three 300+ runs in the marquee events producing some clinical performance throughout the event and the proteas would be keen to put on a fine show to extend their winning run against Bangladesh on Tuesday.