Quinton de Kock’s decision to retire from ODIs after the World Cup has given South Africa’s campaign a significant boost. Having spent several seasons with the Mumbai Indians, de Kock has become a crucial mentor for the team, sharing his insights about Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, commended de Kock’s contributions, emphasising how his experience has been pivotal in preparing players like Bavuma for the crucial match against England.
Bavuma specifically highlighted de Kock’s influence, mentioning, “His experience is immense. In our batting chat, we basically listened to him. He gave the batting chat as to what the conditions are like, and what to expect.” For players who are new to the venue, such as Bavuma, de Kock’s guidance has proven invaluable.
Despite Bavuma’s relatively slow start in the World Cup, de Kock has led by example, notching up centuries in the first two games. Bavuma underscored the significance of de Kock’s contributions, stating, “I mean, for at least player like myself, who has never played here, you feed of that type of information, that type of intel”
Recognizing that Ben Stokes could make a big difference if he plays for England, Bavuma sees him as a key player who can change the game. He stressed that South Africa needs to be really good to handle his impact. Bavuma also discussed the team’s focus on improving their performance in the death overs, particularly following the Netherlands’ strong fightback. He admitted that the team felt the pressure during that phase and emphasised their commitment to upping their game in this crucial period.
The Netherlands surprised South Africa by using spin early in their match. Bavuma said that they were caught off guard but they are now ready even if England tries the same trick.
Bavuma was really excited to play at the famous Wankhede Stadium for the first time. He also showed respect to our cricket legend , Sachin Tendulkar who in fact made the stadium famous. He said playing there is a big moment in his cricket career. He also mentioned that the Wankhede Stadium is great for batters, as shots go far, giving players a good chance to show off their skills.
