Date and Time: Sunday, November 5, 2 PM (08:30 GMT)
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the encounter between two cricket powerhouses, India and South Africa, at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, emotions are running high. The stage is set at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where these titans will clash on Sunday, November 5, at 2 PM (08:30 GMT).
South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, has made it clear that his team is determined to shed the “chokers” tag that has plagued them for years. The Proteas have suffered heartbreaking losses in 10 semifinals at International Cricket Council (ICC) global events, with the memory of their 1999 Cricket World Cup semifinal defeat to Australia still haunting them. However, Bavuma is not ready to accept the label of “chokers” and firmly stated in a pre-match news conference, “If we come unstuck [against India], I don’t think it’ll be a matter of choking. I doubt you would say that about India as well if they come unstuck.”
Both India and South Africa have already secured their places in the semifinals. India has been a dominant force, winning all seven of their matches leading up to this encounter, while South Africa has had a strong performance, with just one unexpected loss to the Netherlands.
“It’s a clash of two in-form teams,” Bavuma noted. “It’s a matter of who breaks first and who’s able to exploit that moment of weakness. We understand there will be pressure moments within the World Cup, moments that we’ve overcome to get to this point, and there still will be more. We’ll deal with them as best as we can.”
Bavuma, however, faces a personal challenge. He has managed only 111 runs in the five matches he’s played in the tournament. This is in stark contrast to his opening partner, Quinton de Kock, who has been in scintillating form, amassing 545 runs in seven games. Bavuma has always faced questions about his strike rate in limited-overs cricket, but the pressure is mounting due to the lack of runs. In the last match, after returning from illness, Bavuma made a promising start, scoring 24 runs from 28 balls against New Zealand.
In anticipation of this high-stakes showdown, Bavuma remains focused on his processes and preparation, hoping that it will eventually translate into the desired results. With both teams in top form and looking to make a statement in the tournament, the India vs. South Africa clash promises to be a thrilling encounter that cricket fans around the world are eagerly looking forward to.
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