Series loss to India is a reality check for us, admits SA all-rounder JP Duminy

Series loss to India is a reality check for us, admits SA all-rounder JP Duminy

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South African veteran JP Duminy agreed that the 5-1 ODI series loss against India arrived as a reality check for the South African squad ahead of the 2019 World Cup preparation. Duminy conceded that they needed AB de Villiers to fire on all cylinders if they wanted to win the upcoming T20 series.

The South African giants wereĀ acknowledged as favorites to win the series against the visiting Indian squad. The home team edged out as winners in the Test leg with a tally of 2-1, but the Indians bounced back in sublime fashion in the six-match ODI series that followed as they sealed a historic series win by a scoreline of 5-1.

A young South African team without the likes of skipper Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers, who was also absent for the first few ODIs, failed to step upĀ under the nascent leadership ofĀ 23-year-old Aiden Markram. SA all-rounder JP Duminy, who will lead the Proteas in the upcoming three-match T20 series, admits that the series loss will serve as a wake-up call for the young side.

ā€œYes, it has been a dismal one-day series for us where India have outplayed us. Thatā€™s something that we will have to take on the chin and realise that we are far from a finished article going into the World Cup a year from now. I think itā€™s a great reality check for us. It is about each and every player seeing themselves in the mirror and how they can improve, to try and stake a claim for that 15-man squad in a yearā€™s time,ā€ Duminy said in an interview to Indian Express.

South Africa will be banking on AB de Villiers, who will poseĀ a huge threatĀ in the T20 format for the Proteas. SAĀ will rely on his smash-and-grab approach to help them set large targets as well as chase huge scores. Since de Villiers has returned from injury, he has scored just 62 runs in three innings in theĀ ODI format, but Duminy hopes the T20s sees a change in fortunes.

ā€œHe [De Villiers] is there to start. Heā€™s in the squad and is obviously a key player for us. Weā€™re going to need him to fire on all cylinders,ā€ said Duminy on Saturday in the pre-match press interaction.ā€

ā€œThe standard that he sets for himself is a high one on a whole. He prides himself on his performances and he will no doubt be hungry to put in a big performance for the team. So I expect nothing less from him, as much as he expects nothing less from himself. Iā€™m looking forward to what he can produce,ā€ Duminy added.

In the last 5 IND vs SA ODIs, SA was bowled out twice, while IND was bowled out only once.

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