Bavuma admitted that the presence of Rohit and Kohli bolsters the Indian team.
South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma on Tuesday (December 2) explained how the presence of senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma strengthens the Indian team, whom the Proteas had whitewashed 2-0 in the Test series.
Having retired from T20Is and Tests, Kohli and Rohit have now become one-format players. The duo played a key role in India’s 17-run victory over South Africa in the opening ODI in Ranchi on Sunday (November 30).
Kohli slammed his 52nd ODI hundred, a commanding 135 off 120 deliveries, while Rohit scored 57 off 51 balls to propel the hosts to a formidable 349/8 in 50 overs.
In reply, South Africa came close to the target but Indian bowlers held their nerves to bowl out the tourists for 332 in 49.2 overs.
“The inclusion of those two guys that does bolster the team. Like we said at the start of the series, these are two guys who have a lot of experience and a lot of skill and that can only benefit the team.
"It is not something that we are not aware of,” Bavuma told the media on the eve of the second ODI in Raipur.
Highlighting their experience in the international arena, Bavuma recalled watching a young Rohit during the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 as a school student.
“We played against, Rohit… I think it was in 2007, the T20 World Cup, I was still in school then. I mean, these guys have been around, so there is nothing new. These are world-class players,” the Proteas captain said.
“(Coming up against them is) nothing new, we have come across it. We have been on the bad end of it. But we have also had good times against them. It all just makes the series a lot more exciting,” he added.
On a separate note, Bavuma said there was nothing for him to clarify on the use of the term “grovel” made by South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad during the fourth day's play in Guwahati Test.
“No, I don't think it is distracting (and) no it's not for me to clarify,” said Bavuma, who missed the ODI series opener due to injury.
Bavuma was effusive in praise of Marco Jansen, who smashed 39-ball 70 to put South Africa on the verge of a victory in Ranchi ODI.
“From an all-rounder point of view, I don't know where the rankings sit (but) I am sure Marco Jansen, in any one of the formats will definitely be in a top 10. His contributions, with bat (or) with the ball (and) sometimes even both, they have been immense to our success,” Bavuma said.
“He is still a young guy, but he has had a lot of international cricket that is under his belt. He is only growing into his own and becoming a lot more comfortable under his skin.”
Bavuma did not read much into South Africa's narrow defeat in the first ODI. “We were 15 runs (17) short of them. The gap between the batting performances wasn't a big one. India played well, their two stalwarts stood up but we were not too far off."
The World Test Championship-winning captain said it was up to those in “suits” in Cricket South Africa to ensure there are more Test matches against top countries.
“All of us have been crying for more cricket especially against the top nations,” he said.
“The Test series (against India) now, as much as there were two match series, a lot of us would have wanted to see it going to three or four-match series. When it's a side like India, they would have raised the standard, which would have forced us to raise our standards as well.”
“As players, we don't get involved when it comes to the scheduling, the negotiation, and all of that. Those are for, I guess, the people in suits, the Cricket South Africa."
(With PTI Inputs)