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South Africa‘s coach, Rob Walter, disclosed the rationale behind Temba Bavuma‘s absence from the upcoming white-ball series against India.
Non-participation of Temba Bavuma against India in white-ball leg
Following the demanding ODI World Cup 2023 in India, Bavuma is rested for the 3 T20s and as many ODIs starting on December 10. The 33-year-old will return for the subsequent two-Test series against India, where crucial World Test Championship (WTC) points will be in play.
Rob Walter sheds light on Bavuma’s non-inclusion
Walter explained that Bavuma needed a break to recover mentally from the challenges faced during the World Cup. The decision to rest him for the T20I and ODI series was made collaboratively, with both Bavuma and Test coach Shukri Conrad agreeing that it was crucial for the batter to take some time off and return rejuvenated for the Test series.
“Temba’s been phenomenal throughout the year, but there’s a mental toll in terms of the pressures of a World Cup. The scrutiny on a captain is even more pronounced. For him to step away for a while and prioritise being ready for the Test series is important to us. In fact, we want all of our key players to be in the best shape for that [Test] series and that drove our decision-making,” Walter was quoted as saying by SA Cricket Mag.
“It may seem a progressive decision, but it was actually an easy call to make. All three of us [Walter, Bavuma and Test coach Shukri Conrad] were on the same page. We didn’t deliberate long – it was the right thing to do for Temba and his cricket,” the 48-year-old concluded.
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Aiden Markram to lead in Bavuma’s absence
With Bavuma on a break, Aiden Markram steps into a leadership role, captaining the ODI and T20I side during the series against India. Markram’s leadership will be pivotal in navigating the three-match T20I series and the subsequent three-match ODI series.
