South Africa's Cricket Champions Look to Uphold Their Status Against India

South Africa chief coach Shukri Conrad, left, talks with captain Temba Bavuma. (AP Photo)KOLKATA: When you become a world champion, you are most likely to celebrate in the manner that Indian women’s captainHarmanpreet Kaurdid after beating South Africa women to win the World Cup: With a couple of bhangra steps, slapping a handshake and then accepting the trophy. Not likeTemba Bavuma. The South Africa captain remained ice cool in the centre of frenzied celebrations after they became the Test world champions, beating Australia at Lord’s in what was surely one of the biggest upsets of the decade.The enormity of the occasion took time to sink in.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.SUBSCRIBE NOW!A few months down the line, that winning feeling has sunk in and most of South Africa’s cricketers have already moved on. “Yeah, I think it has sunk in. I think whenever we go into series, there’s a lot more of an expectation from us as a team to, I guess, uphold the whole champion status,” Bavuma said on Thursday. “It doesn’t really change anything from our point of view, but I think from a confidence point, it’s just a case of us kind of walking proudly.Election Results 2025Bihar poll results: NDA seen making gains according to early trends; Tejashwi leads from RaghopurBypolls: High-stake battle in Jubilee hills; counting under wayShubman Gill Press Conference: Team India captain opens up about India’s bowling plan for SA Test“We’re known as the champions, the current champions at this point. We have a lovely opportunity now coming up against India in their own conditions. Not many bigger challenges than that. So it is an opportunity for us to kind of stamp ourselves with that label.”The champions label doesn’t come cheap and Bavuma knows that their performance will be keenly followed from now on. Already, the drawn series against Pakistan has generated a lot of interest, particularly how their spinners performed.Back home, however, the celebrations continue even as Bavuma’s team is focusing on their job in the ongoing WTC cycle.“Back home, I do feel like there’s been a major shift in mindset towards cricket. There’s been a lot more appreciation. The love that’s been shown towards the team, also to individuals within the team... I think for myself personally, probably a lot more appreciation for my presence within the team. So I guess that’s something that’s been good.”Chokers to champions has been the South African story, although Bavuma doesn’t quite agree with that narrative. “I really don’t think that it was (chokers’ tag) something for this group of guys. Some of these guys weren’t even born when World Cups happened and where we didn’t get over the line. So it really is not for this team to kind of walk around with. I think for some of us, some older guys have been at ICC events and have come up short.You know, it probably brought a little bit of relief, but also stronger belief that if you keep going, if you keep pushing, things are about to happen. So, yeah, I think confidence is probably the biggest word back home. For us as a team, it’s about being confident that we can continue being the No.1 team.”Catch Lovlina Borgohain's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 5. Watch Here