South Africa vs India: Not many gave us a chance, says Temba Bavuma after proving naysayers wrong in ODI series
India Today
South Africa vs India: Captain Temba Bavuma said he is delighted that they were able to rally against odds and convincingly beat India 3-0 in the ODI series. South Africa won a thrilling final ODI by 4 runs to complete the sweep.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma did not mince words as he said the hosts were happy to prove their naysayers wrong after hammering India 3-0 in the ODI series. Bavuma's men held their nerves in a tense thriller in the final ODI in Cape Town on Sunday to complete their first-ever sweep of India in the 50-over format.
When India arrived in South Africa, they were considered favourites for both the Tests and the ODI series. However, after Dean Elgar inspired a brilliant come-back-from behind win for South Africa in the Test series, Bavuma's men rode on that confidence and put on clinical performances in the ODI series.
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After the departures of the likes of AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Hashim Amla and the absence of Faf du Plessis, South Africa are in a period of transition but the win over India in the ODI and Test series should give them a lot of confidence.
"Very satisfying, mission accomplished for us. Many people didn't give us much of a chance. Hope through our performances, we've been able to get a couple of supporters. Making good strides as a team. Challenge is to get better and better," Temba Bavuma said.
"This was a big challenge, a big obstacle in our journey. To come out the way we did - winning Tests, winning ODIs convincingly will do a world of good. What pleased me most - if you look at the Test series, feel like it's the hardest series I've been part of. Indian bowlers asking questions regularly.
"Even in the field the intensity. Physically we've been challenged - it's been very hot the last couple of weeks. These conditions weren't exactly South African like - more like the subcontinent."