Bavuma: Kohli and Rohit Add Fire to India's ODI Lineup
Bavuma: Kohli and Rohit Add Fire to India's ODI Lineup
SA captain Bavuma says Kohli and Rohit bring depth to India, recalling Rohit's start in 2007 and praising their impact as India eyes more top-nation clashes.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma says facing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in ODIs is nothing new, but their experience and class still boosts India's lineup. In India's 17-run victory in the opening ODI, Kohli fired his 52nd ODI century and Rohit contributed 57 as India set the pace in the three-match series. The second ODI is scheduled for Wednesday in Raipur.
Bavuma recalled Rohit's rise as a youngster, telling reporters, 'We played against Rohit... I think it was in 2007, the T20 World Cup, I was still in school then.' He described Kohli and Rohit as 'world-class players' and said facing such names always makes the contest thrilling. He added that they are aware of the quality they bring and that it strengthens India as a team, even if it isn’t new to them.
The Proteas skipper also addressed the ongoing grovel controversy surrounding South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad, stating that the matter was not distracting and not for him to clarify. Bavuma then praised Marco Jansen for his brilliant 39-ball 70 in the first ODI, highlighting the all-rounder’s impact in shaping the game.
On the broader horizon, Bavuma expressed a desire for more high-quality bilateral series against top nations, and he signaled openness to longer-format clashes that could help teams prepare for future events. The clash underlines the depth and pace of modern ODI cricket and sets the stage for another competitive outing in the ongoing series.
