India relied on their batting power to bounce back from losing 0-1 to claim a 2-1 victory in the recently concluded three-way T20 series against Australia.
The focus will now be on an identical game against the Proteas, the last dress rehearsal for both sides ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia next month.
“Facing the new ball throwers (in India) is quite difficult, they make the ball swing and move a bit, a bit more than what we are used to in South Africa. It’s obviously a challenge that you have to get around,” said the South African white-balloon skipper on the eve of the T20 opening here.
“I expect a good series, strong and competitive.” #Proteas captain Temba Bavuma#INDvSA #BePartOfIt https://t.co/t1ozwnLbq5
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The flaws in India’s pace bowling armor were ill-exposed in the three-game T20s against Australia.
In the decisive series in Hyderabad on Sunday, the duo of two seasoned rhythms of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar together conceded 79 runs from seven overs, the latter claiming a wicket.
Harshal Patel, who is considered a death specialist, was also a big disappointment and the South African skipper knows what it takes to succeed in India.
“The key is to limit the damage and not allow the wickets to fall and try to build the momentum. But yeah, Bhuvi and Bumrah, they always challenge you with the new ball up front,” a- he added.
By the way, Bhuvneshwar is rested for the series ahead of the World Cup as the workload will be split between Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Patel and Arshdeep Singh.
The Indian striker looks to be in good hands with the return to form of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma leading the way.
“Obviously those – Rohit and Virat – are big names with a big pedigree behind them, and obviously, as you saw in their last spell, their performances have boosted the confidence of the team.
“We expect to come out on top, and it’s good for us to be up against the best. You expect these guys to bring a lot of confidence and an X-factor to the team,” said the south-south skipper. African.
That said, Bavuma will have ‘unfinished business’ as their last streak – a five-game T20I rubber – ended in a 2-2 result after rain washed away the decider in Bengaluru.
“The last time we were here we were tested, we were challenged, but I think we responded to it quite well. We expect it to be a good series, a competition as well. is the last series before the World Cup, we will look to fill in the gaps whatever they are,” he added.
Personally, Bavuma has a lot to prove after being snubbed in their SA20 auction, the country’s premier T20 league.
Dismissing it as a ‘side show’, the skipper said his role was to run the country and keep everyone in a good space ahead of the World Cup.
“I’m here to make sure the guys are in the best possible space before this big World Cup tournament. All the other distractions, the side shows as I would call it, I’m going to deal with on a personal level.
“But being here with the team, as long as I still wear the shirt, it will be to serve and lead the team as best I can,” the 32-year-old said.