Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra believes South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma was their weak link during their 2023 World Cup campaign. However, Bavuma was dismissed for a duck as South Africa was bundled out for 212 in the semifinal against Australia in Kolkata on Thursday. Although the Proteas bowlers tried their best, the Aussies managed a three-wicket win with 16 balls to spare to reach the final against India in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Reflecting on South Africa’s batting in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “South Africa opted to bat and you feel sad when you talk about someone like that, but the truth is that this team’s captain proved to be their weakest link in this entire tournament – Temba Bavuma. Runs haven’t come from Bavuma’s bat at all.”
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“The captaincy also looked slightly questionable in the end in the semifinal, with regards to the field positioning, although he captains well. I have a lot of respect and time for Temba the captain, but Temba the batter is not doing well. He is struggling and how,” Chopra again added, “Reeza Hendricks played two matches and he batted amazingly well in the first match. I think it was against either England or Bangladesh. That game was at the Wankhede Stadium, I remember correctly.”
However, Hendricks scored a 75-ball 85 in South Africa’s league-stage win against England in Mumbai. On the other hand, Bavuma managed only 145 runs in eight innings at an average of 18.13, with 35 being his best effort. Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra also added that South Africa got off to a pedestrian start as well. Later, Miller scored 101 runs off 116 deliveries with the help of eight fours and five sixes, adding 95 runs for the fifth wicket with Heinrich Klaasen (47 off 48) as well.
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“The captain played and got out for zero. Quinton de Kock played a slog and got out. The truth is that South Africa scored eight runs in the first six overs. Rohit Sharma scored as many runs in Trent Boult’s first six balls. Of course, different pitch, different bowlers. Four wickets fell quickly and then David Miller was very, very good. He scored a century. It’s not easy to score a century in a semifinal. Against all odds, under pressure, but he scored runs,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
