Quinton de Kock's IPL experience at Wankhede stadium vital for South Africa

NEW DELHI: South Africa's World Cup campaign has received an invaluable boost from an unlikely source, as the team looks to bounce back from a surprising defeat to the Netherlands. Quinton de Kock, who is set to retire from ODIs after the tournament, has become a vital guiding force for

South Africa

thanks to his experience and knowledge of Mumbai's

Wankhede Stadium

. De Kock, having spent several IPL seasons with the Mumbai Indians, is intimately familiar with the conditions at the stadium and has shared his insights with the team.

South Africa's captain,

Temba Bavuma

, spoke highly of de Kock's contributions, saying, "His experience is immense. In our batting chat today (Friday), we basically listened to him. He gave the batting chat as to what the conditions are like, and what to expect." For players like Bavuma, who are new to the venue, de Kock's insights have been invaluable in preparing for the match against England.

Despite a relatively quieter start to the World Cup for Bavuma, de Kock has led from the front with centuries in the first two games. Bavuma emphasised the significance of de Kock's contributions, stating, "I mean, for at least a player like myself, who has never played here, you feed off that type of information, that type of intel."

With England potentially introducing Ben Stokes into their playing eleven, Bavuma acknowledged Stokes as an X-factor player and highlighted the need for South Africa to be at their best to handle his impact on the game. The team has prepared for Stokes and recognizes his ability to change the course of a game.
Additionally, Bavuma discussed South Africa's bowlers' performance in the death overs, citing the need for improvement after the Netherlands' fightback. He noted that the team had faced pressure in the death period, and enhancing their performance in this phase is a priority.

The Netherlands' tactics of deploying spin early in their match against South Africa surprised some players in the team. Bavuma acknowledged this strategy and revealed that South Africa is now prepared for the possibility of England employing a similar approach.
Playing at the iconic Wankhede Stadium for the first time, Bavuma expressed his excitement and admiration for cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who made the stadium famous. He described the opportunity to play at the venue as a significant achievement in his cricketing career.
Bavuma further highlighted the Wankhede Stadium's reputation as a paradise for batsmen, where shots carry well, providing excellent value for the players.
(With inputs from PTI)