India's fighting spirit will be there despite Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli's absence: Temba Bavuma

After a light breather, the Indian cricket team’s season is ready to pick up again from where it had left off. With the arrival of the South African team in India, the players, as well as the fans, are gearing up for what is going to be a very competitive T20I series. Although the Indian team is without the senior trio of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, South African captain Temba Bavuma insists that India’s fighting spirit would still be there. 

Notably, the Proteas team has arrived with full strength. More so, the South African core is made up of players who did really well in the IPL. Players like Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje were instrumental to their respective teams’ successes this year and would hope to translate their IPL form into the national side. 

We don’t really see it as taking on a B side: Temba Bavuma

When asked about his thoughts on this Indian team which is without its senior players, the Proteas captain, in a press conference, said, “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.”

“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,” he further explained. 

The South African captain was particularly admirative of India’s aggressive brand of cricket in recent times. Speaking about the same he said: “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 competitively. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are not there but the Indian fighting spirit will still be there.”

He was furthermore expectant of India’s quality and believed that “the Indian team would not be easy” on the visitors. When asked about the areas the Proteas team would like to improve in, he said: “One, two or number three positions are probably where we’d like to get a lot more clarity. But I think everything else will kind of will continue as is.”

Meanwhile, South Africa will begin their India tour with the first T20I in Delhi on 9th June. Interestingly, the last time these two teams met, South Africa won the Test series 2-1 and cleaned swept India by 3-0 in ODIs to everyone’s surprise.