Published: Sep 23, 2019, 10:44 AM (IST)
Edited: Sep 23, 2019, 10:44 AM (IST)
South Africa batsman Temba Bavuma has had a solid start to his T20I career with scores of 49 and 27* across two innings against India helping his side draw the three-match series 1-1.
India vs South Africa news | India vs South Africa fixtures
Bavuma, 29, was expected to make his debut in the series opening match in Dharamsala but that T20I was washed out due to rain meaning he had to wait a bit longer. On debut, he gave a good account of himself and missed out on a half-century by just one run in Mohali. India went on to win that match to take 1-o lead.
READ: Rohit equals MS record for most T20I matches for India
In the series decider on Sunday night in Bengaluru, while captain Quinton de Kock led the way with an unbeaten 79 off 52, Bavuma played the supporting role but had his moment when he sealed the match with a six, something which even left him surprised.
“I surprised myself,” said Bavuma of his six off Krunal Pandya as South Africa beat India by nine wickets.
Bavuma is out to change perception of him being a Test specialist and will be satisfied with what he has done in that direction. “I got my T20 debut at a time I didn’t expect it. The coaches and selectors have shown a lot of faith in me. It was up to me to pay them back. I think it is just the intensity, to have the mindset to score, as I don’t have the powers like (Chris) Gayle or someone. Picking up singles and twos is my game,” he said.
South Africa must be happy with the way their tour of India has started but a tougher assignment awaits them as they gear up for a three-match Test series that gets underway from October 2.
Bavuma, who has played 36 Tests so far, feels the T20Is will give their young team the confidence against the top-ranked Test team. “Lot of confidence within this young team. Our goal was to draw the T20 series and we have managed to do that. We can take the confidence from it into the Test series which is going to be tough,” he said.
