After a defeat in the first ODI against India, Proteas captain Temba Bavuma is ready to lead his side in Raipur at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium with one goal in mind: to win the next match.
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma returns from illness with a simple objective for the second ODI against India – respond. South Africa trail 1–0 in the series after defeat in Ranchi, and Bavuma made it clear that nothing about the team’s mindset has shifted despite the challenge ahead.
Asked about the massive ground in Raipur, Bavuma said the dimensions will influence how both sides approach the contest. “It does look bigger than Ranchi, more particularly the squares, so I’m sure the 2’s and 3’s will come into play,” he said. “From a batting point of view, you’ll have to run your 1’s and 2’s. From a bowling point of view, you’ll probably want to use the longer square boundaries to your advantage.”
He added that South Africa still doesn’t know exactly what to expect until they get onto the surface. “I’d like to see how the wicket will play as well because that will obviously influence things.”
Bavuma refused to read too much into the absence or inclusion of big Indian names. When asked whether preparing for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli requires a different mindset, he was unequivocal. “From a mindset point of view, nothing changes when you go out to win the game,” he said. “We don’t respect the opposition any differently. Whether Kane Williamson is there or not, you still go through the same processes. So nothing really changes.”
As media chatter around comments made during the Test series resurfaced, Bavuma batted it away. “It’s not for me to clarify anything,” he said when pushed on the matter.
He was, however, happy to speak about the threat posed by Rohit and Kohli. “The inclusion of those two guys bolsters their team. They have a wealth of experience and a wealth of skill. These are world-class players. There’s nothing new – we’ve been on the bad end of it, but we’ve also had good times against them.”
Bavuma reserved special praise for Marco Jansen, who continues to establish himself as one of South Africa’s most valuable players. “I’m sure Marco Jansen in any one of those formats will definitely be in the top 10. His contributions with the bat, with the ball, sometimes even both, have been immense to our success,” said Bavuma. “He’s still a young guy, but he’s had a lot of international cricket. He’s only growing into his own.”
With two years until the 2027 ODI World Cup on home soil, Bavuma sees every game as part of a longer build-up. “Every game we play now is a big lead-up opportunity,” he said. “It’s about filling in the gaps with guys who have left. Brevis, we know what he’s about. Matthew Breetzke has fitted in like a glove. Quinton de Kock is coming I,n and we want to see the role he can fulfil. It’s about giving guys opportunities and creating depth.”
He emphasised the need for versatility in the batting order and adaptability in different conditions. “There’s always that element of batsmanship that you need. I know there’s a big craze about guys hitting sixes in the middle order, but you need a little bit of batsmanship. Where I fit in, generally being in that top three, I’m easy whichever way is best for the team.”
South Africa fell short by only 15 runs in the first ODI, and Bavuma believes the fundamentals remain intact. “India played well. The two stalwarts stood up. But the gap between the batting performances wasn’t a big one,” he said. “All the fundamentals stay the same. You create opportunities, you want to take those opportunities.”
Asked whether crowd size or stadium capacity would influence decision-making, Bavuma dismissed the idea. “I’ve never gone to a cricket game and really considered the fans as part of the decision,” he said. “Whether you bat first or bowl first, you still have to do your discipline well.”
He was also firm about South Africa’s approach for the second ODI. “The plan for the next match is to win the game,” he said.
The conversation ended with a familiar topic – the short length of the Test series between South Africa and India. Bavuma expressed the players’ desire for more marquee contests. “I’d love for it to happen,” he said. “All of us have been crying for more cricket against your top nations. As much as it was a two-match series, a lot of us would have wanted to see it go to three or four. Hopefully, by being competitive, we will attract the top teams to play against us.”
For now, though, focus returns to Raipur – and the Proteas’ attempt to level the series.