Bavuma's energy 'focused on team'

Temba Bavuma found himself very much in the spotlight ahead of South Africa’s T20 International series against India on Tuesday and not just because the South African captain was returning to action after a three-month injury hiatus which saw him miss the Proteas tour of England in July and August.

Bavuma said all the right things about the intensity of the three-match series which starts at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday and reminded a pre-match media gathering that his team had acquitted themselves with some distinction in a five-match series in India in March when they took a 2-0 lead before sharing the series 2-2.

But attention was inevitably drawn to the captain’s recent snubbing at the inaugural SA20 Player Auction where he went unsold, having set his reserve price at R850 000. Fellow Protea, Andile Phehlukwayo, also went unsold at the same price and is also in the 17-man squad in India.

“I have tried to put those things behind me. My biggest focus is on the role I have and to serve the team as best as I can,” Bavuma said.

“I need to make sure the guys are in the best place possible for the World Cup. All the other distractions and sideshows, that's something I'll deal with on a personal level, but now being with the team (is the most important thing.) As I'm wearing the shirt, it'll be up to me to lead the team as best as I can,” Bavuma said.

Bavuma is expected to open the batting alongside Quinton de Kock with Reeza Hendricks, who enjoyed a purple patch of form in England with four consecutive 50s against England and Ireland, dropping to No 3 – if he even makes the starting XI.

But Bavuma remained steadfast that the series was about the team, not individuals, and that all of his attention and energy would be focused on preparing for the T20 World Cup which starts in Australia at the end of October.

“My focus is on the team, I'm still the captain and I'll lead and serve the team as best as I can,” Bavuma said.

The three-match T20I series is followed by a three-match ODI series with 30 WC Super League points at stake counting towards automatic qualification for the 50-over World Cup which takes place in India next year. The Proteas will almost certainly have to win that series 3-0 to avoid a secondary qualification tournament in Harare in June next year.

T20 Squads:

South Africa:

Temba Bavuma (captain), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Bjorn Fortuin, Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo

India:

Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Dinesh Karthik (wk), R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Umesh Yadav, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Shahbaz Nadeem, Shreyas Iyer