IND vs SA T20 Series: India vs South Africa Live: South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma has refused to call KL Rahul led India a second-string side. India will be missing big guns like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami besides a few injured players. But Bavuma believes young Indian players will pose a strong challenge. Follow IND vs SA Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“It’s obviously a new-look Indian side. A lot of guys who have done well in the recent IPL have been given opportunities. From us as a team we wouldn’t be looking at it any differently,” Temba Bavuma said during a virtual press conference on Saturday.
IND vs SA T20 Series: Temba Bavuma refuses to call KL Rahul & Co ‘India B team’, says ‘They are a very competitive side’
India will have two new faces in Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh while Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik are also making a comeback. Apart from them, Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad have been fringe players.
“We don’t really see it as taking on a ‘B’ side. We have played against the Indian T20 side. So, going into the game, we’ll still be as motivated as ever. The competitiveness will be there,” Bavuma added.
IND vs SA T20 Series: Temba Bavuma refuses to call KL Rahul & Co ‘India B team’, says ‘They are a very competitive side’
The #INDvSA T20I series draws ever closer 🇿🇦#BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/Nurib2z380
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) June 4, 2022
The South African white-ball skipper feels the Indian team in recent times has had players who go hard and play aggressive cricket. The likes of Rishabh Pant, Deepak Hooda and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been excellent in recent times and could prove costly for South Africa.
“The attitude, the mindset of the Indian team, in the last couple of years, has changed. It’s guys who play cricket hard, who play very competitively. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are not there but the Indian fighting spirit will still be there,” Bavuma said.
IND vs SA T20 Series: Temba Bavuma refuses to call KL Rahul & Co ‘India B team’, says ‘They are a very competitive side’
IND vs SA T20 Series: Highlights:
- There will be no bio-bubble for the first time in a bilateral series in India.
- But players have been asked to avoid crowded places and wear masks at all times outside the team environment.
- There will also be mandatory Covid tests for all players and support staff.
- South African team under Temba Bavuma’s leadership has begun practice at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium ahead of the 1st T20.
- Team India under KL Rahul’s leadership will arrive in Delhi on Sunday and will begin practice on Monday.
- The Indian players will also have to appear for a fitness test before the series.
IND vs SA T20 Series: Temba Bavuma refuses to call KL Rahul & Co ‘India B team’, says ‘They are a very competitive side’
Apart from the batting department, India are going with a potent spin-bowling attack. Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav had excellent IPL 2022 campaigns. Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi also had good outings. Bavuma feels facing Indian spin attack will be a tough challenge.
“It will be a challenge. We’ve played against them a couple of times, and one hopes that we have a better understanding of conditions here in India. The guys are individually speaking about them. They have individual ways of approaching spin and how they can be successful,” Bavuma said.
“For the younger guys, it’ll be important how the others share that knowledge. The way that we played slow bowling over the last 18 months or so as a group gives us a lot of confidence and belief that we can dominate spin bowling and different types of bowling,” he added.
IND vs SA T20 Series: Temba Bavuma refuses to call KL Rahul & Co ‘India B team’, says ‘They are a very competitive side’
India squad: KL Rahul (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain, wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.
South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (C), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen and Marco Jansen.
IND vs SA T20 Series: Temba Bavuma refuses to call KL Rahul & Co ‘India B team’, says ‘They are a very competitive side’
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