KOLKATA: Temba Bavuma has insisted that even if his in-form South Africa side lose to unbeaten hosts India in Kolkata on Sunday, it won’t be because they have “choked” again at a World Cup.

South Africa, yet to lift One-day International cricket’s sho­w­piece trophy, have often been the authors of their own downfall. They went out after a tied 1999 semi-final against Austr­alia when they had the game all but won, misread rain-affected run-rate rules in 2003 and lost another last-four thriller against New Zealand in 2015.

The manner of those exits has led to repeated accusations of “choking” — an inability to handle pressure — and the Proteas’ critics were out in force after their shock loss to the Netherlands earlier in this World Cup.

But that reverse is their lone defeat of the tournament, with South Africa holding their nerve in a tense one-wicket win over Pakistan, and another victory on Sunday will see them join India in the semi-finals.

“I think if we come unstuck tomorrow, I don’t think it’ll be a matter of choking,” South African captain Bavuma told a pre-match press conference in Kolkata on Saturday.

“I doubt you would say that about India as well if they come unstuck, that they had choked.

“You’ve got two teams who are in-form, coming up against each other and I think it’s just a matter of who breaks first and who’s able to, I guess, exploit that moment or that weakness.”

The diminutive 33-year-old added: “We understand that there will be pressure moments within the World Cup, moments that we’ve overcome to get to this point, and there will still be more. We’ll deal with them as best as we can.”

India dismissed Sri Lanka for just 55 on Thu­rsday, with their pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami wreaking havoc in Mumbai.

“It’s obviously a world-class bowling attack, they know everything about these conditions,” said Bavuma.

“You don’t get a lot of bad balls. The three up front, Bum­rah, Siraj, as well as Shami...if there’s swing, if there’s nip, they can exploit that. You’ve really got to be on your ‘A game’ with that new ball.”

Meanwhile, India coach Rahul Dravid insisted Virat Kohli is “really focused” on winning the World Cup rather than any looming personal and professional landmarks as the hosts prepare to put their unbeaten record on the line against nearest pursuers South Africa.

Kohli, who turns 35 on Sunday, almost equalled Sac­hin Tendulkar’s all-time record of 49 ODI hundreds while making 88 against Sri Lanka in the presence of the ‘Little Master’ in Mumbai on Thursday.

Dravid said Kohli’s attitude and performances were indicative of his desire to win the World Cup for a second time.

“I think Virat’s been really relaxed and as you can see in his performances, batting really well for us,” Dravid told a pre-match press conference on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2023