South Africa is gearing up to launch their World Cup campaign with a burning desire to shed the label of “big-time chokers” that has haunted them in previous tournaments. Their history with the World Cup has been a bittersweet rollercoaster ride since emerging from the shadows of apartheid.

Eleven years later, they stumbled over the rain rules in a tied match with Sri Lanka, leading to their own premature exit from the tournament.

In the 1999 edition, they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a bizarre finish against Australia in the semifinal.

Key batsman David Miller emphatically rejected the “chokers” tag, stating, “I genuinely believe that we’re not chokers.” While acknowledging past disappointments, he expressed that the label had never bothered him. He added, “Obviously there’s been history and there’s been games that we’ve not played well in that have let us down. But I would never say the ‘chokers’ tag applies to us, although that’s what everyone says.”

Quinton de Kock, set to retire from international cricket after the World Cup, has thrived in India. In 2022, he smashed an astonishing 140 not out, marking the third-highest ever score in IPL history.

“A lot of the teams have guys who played in India, have done well in India,” said Bavuma. “I think all we could do is for the guys who have that experience and knowledge, they can share it among the team or use it in terms of our strategies and plans.”