Captain Temba Bavuma hails new generation of Proteas pushing for 2027 Cricket World Cup

Proteas One Day International captain Temba Bavuma has expressed his satisfaction with the emerging talent in the team over recent years and the additional options their versatility has provided.

South Africa will face India in the second ODI at the Shaheed Singh International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday (10am SA time), aiming to claim their first win of the series after a 17-run defeat in the opener on Sunday.

Bavuma will return to the squad after missing the first match due to illness. Despite his absence, several players stepped up, including Matthew Breetzke, who impressed with a top score of 72, while Marco Jansen (70) and Corbin Bosch (67) also contributed significantly.

Under coach Shukri Conrad, the Proteas have rewarded consistent performances, and with a surge of young talent providing depth across all three formats, Bavuma has been particularly pleased with the team’s adaptability.

“There is the versatility in the side,” Bavuma said ahead of the match. “Guys who generally bat at the top of the order can bat in the middle; if you think about a guy like Matthew Breetzke, who generally sees himself at the top in One Day cricket, he is currently doing a good job at number four, with a guy like Tony getting the opportunity to bat at five.

“Going back to South Africa, there is always an element of batsmanship that you need about guys hitting sixes, and a guy like Tony has those kinds of characteristics, and now it’s just about putting in the performances.”

With Quinton de Kock back in the team and Ryan Rickelton performing well, Bavuma’s return adds further options to the batting order, as he can also open in ODIs. The captain highlighted the importance of giving players opportunities with the World Cup still a few years away.

“Where I fit in is generally in the top three,” he continued. “But I am easy with whichever way is best for the team, as long as I am still contributing with the bat.

"At the moment it’s about giving opportunities; there are still two years to go (to the World Cup), so as much as I say we are working towards 2027, there is still a lot that can happen, but we just want to give ourselves options.”

Jansen, with another impressive score with the bat in the first ODI, has cemented his status as one of South Africa’s fastest-rising talents. He is expected to remain a key figure in the team leading up to their home tournament in 2027, and Bavuma has praised him for his consistent contributions.

“From an all-rounder point of view, I do not know where the rankings sit, but I am certain Marco Jansen in any of the formats will definitely be in the top ten. His contributions with the bat or ball, and sometimes with both, have been immense to our success," Bavuma said.

“Marco is a young guy, but he has had a lot of international cricket under his belt, and I think he is only growing on his own and becoming a lot more comfortable with his own skill, and may he continue with his good form and look to win games for us.”