Inability to capitalize on the good start cost South Africa the second T20 International against India, but that's really doesn't mean Virat Kohli and Co. is not unbeatable side, insisted Temba Bavuma.
The Proteas suffered a 7-wicket defeat in Mohali on Wednesday (September 17) despite having had a good start in the beginning, as the tourists were looking set for a big total but they failed to capitalize on the winning moments and managed to post a target of 150 runs for India.
Following the defeat, the Proteas batsman admitted that Men in Blue are a formidable team in home conditions but are still a beatable side as they are looking to draw the T20I series in Bengaluru on Sunday, 22 September after the first match washed out at HPCA.
In the post-match press conference, Bavuma said: “They are formidable but not unbeatable. It was just one phase with the bat where we let ourselves down and a quality side like India made us pay. There will always be moments in the game which we can win and it is about being aware of those moments and making sure we are in the right mental space to win those moments.”
The 29-year-old played a brilliant knock of 49 runs in his T20I debut but insisted he didn’t look at personal ambitions, putting the national side ahead. He also said they were looking to post 180 at least. Bavuma said, “I don't see myself as a selfish person. I always put the team first. If you look at the way that I got out it showed I put the team first. It could be challenging for some others who know they will get only limited opportunities at the international level but not for me.”
He further went on to explain, “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.
The first 10-12 overs we played really well. I think we could not really get going after a good start and lost the game between 12th to the 15th over. When David came in the 13th over, we were in a strong position, 180 seemed very much gettable at the halfway stage. I was not really able to get that momentum and others as well. I don’t think we were completely outplayed.”
He also lauded David Miller for his spectacular catch of Shikhar Dhawan at long-on, saying: “I would be biased here but Miller’s catch was phenomenal. I thought it was six but he managed to hold on to it.”
Mohali match was his first limited-overs game for South Africa in almost two years, Bavuma made the most of the opportunity against India in the absence of Faf du Plessis. He explained, “It was good to be out there. Facing the white ball again. It has been a while. It was a pleasing effort but did not do much to the result of the game. Last (domestic) season was a big season for me in white-ball cricket. There were not many Tests and that allowed me to play white-ball cricket.”
Bavuma signed off by saying, “I got the opportunity to come back to the national fold. It helped me understand what my game plan is in white-ball cricket.”
Noteworthy, the third and final T20I will be played on September 22 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
(With PTI Inputs)
