‘Who will you blame?’ Proteas fans react to Indian drubbing, say Bavuma is vindicated

Proteas captain Temba Bavuma was trending after the men’s national team was convincingly thrashed by India in the first One Day International (ODI) of the three-match series, despite not being part of squad that played.

The Proteas’ top seven batters scored just eight runs between them after they won the toss and chose to bat. Opener Tony de Zorzi (28) and stand-in captain Aiden Markram (12) were the only specialist batters who reached double figures.

With the hosts languishing at 58/7, the tail worked hard to try and launch a recovery, led by all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo, who top-scored with 38 runs.

Since Bavuma is not in the team, they were waiting to blame Phehlukwayo but the fellow is batting better than the top order. Chest pains all around there by racists 😂 pic.twitter.com/qxaQsWYSFf

— Bogobe Connoisseur (@alikomape) December 17, 2023

With wounds from being knocked out the recent Cricket World Cup, where Bavuma didn’t perform well with the bat, still fresh, Proteas fans who support Bavuma felt vindicated by Sunday’s bad performance by Proteas batsmen.

ALSO READ: Proteas thumped by India in ODI series opener

Fresh wounds

Bavuma had a dismal showing at the World Cup. In eight innings at the tournament, he top-scored with 35 runs against Australia, while all the top six batters made hundreds in the tournament.

Because of this, Bavuma bore the brunt of the Proteas’ ultimate knockout in the tournament, with many saying he should’ve been dropped.

Strip Bavuma on the captaincy.
And drop him. pic.twitter.com/YSTLP9JlmD

— ₿yron Froneman (@BFronos) November 16, 2023

 “He was the lead man who got us into this tournament in the first place. I think people forget that. I wanted to make sure that he was aware of how important he is in this team and how proud I am of his efforts and the way he led throughout the tournament,” ODI Proteas coach Rob Walter told media after the team’s exit.

To win tournaments you need to be brave and ruthless.

If only SA was brave enough to drop Bavuma and bring in Hendricks, things could have been different. Think if Rohit would have been this bad,had our Indian fans,media would have accepted him as captain? Really doubt #AUSvsSA

— A Normal Investor (@DataXTradeXInv1) November 16, 2023

The Proteas skipper was injured leading up to the Semi-final match against the eventual winners, Australia. Bavuma was South Africa’s leading run-scorer in ODIs in 17 matches played over the past 18 months prior to the tournament.

He scored 868 runs at an average of 57.86, with four of his five hundreds made in that period.

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Not to blame

The eight-wicket victory with more than 33 overs to spare on Sunday afternoon by India has made Proteas fans realise that maybe Bavuma shouldn’t be blamed for the Proteas batters’ woes.

Must be Bavuma 's fault again…… https://t.co/vHG4kjIFKz

— Tracksuit (@ThabisoMosia) December 17, 2023

This is the guy who you wanted Bavuma to be dropped for. A lot of apologies are needed from some of you. You were telling us lies 😂😂😂

— simmi (@simmiareff) December 17, 2023

So Bavuma is not the problem mos pic.twitter.com/KaLb9ahwYy

— Mphoza (@Mphoza929) December 17, 2023

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