South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's inclusion bolsters Team India. He recalled watching Rohit Sharma play in India-South Africa match in T20 World Cup 2007 when he was still in school, noting that playing against Rohit and Kohli is "nothing new". Bavuma remarked that Rohit and Kohli's presence makes the series a lot more exciting.