Graeme Smith says Proteas ODI captain Temba Bavuma has an opportunity to “fight back and show everyone what he’s made of”.

Opener Bavuma struggled with the bat at the recent World Cup in India, scoring 145 runs in eight matches at an average of 18.12 and a strike rate of 73.60.

He was also criticised for some of his captaincy decisions, particularly in the three-wicket semi-final defeat to Australia.

“When you’re a professional player and, in particular, the captain, you can never get away from it,” former Proteas captain Smith told reporters at the SA20 50-day tournament launch at Newlands.

“You’ve got to go to every press conference, you’ve got to front up for your team, and the scrutiny is on you as a leader. And if you don’t perform, it’s natural that that position will come under heat and that’s something, as a leader, that you’ve just got to deal with.

“Often, as a captain, it’s not your job to sit there and blame other players and make excuses.

“You’ve got to take it on the chin and move forward. Hopefully, it will be an opportunity for him to gain experience to come back, fight back and show everyone what he’s made of.”

WATCH: Bavuma hits back at critics

Smith had backed the Proteas to break their semi-final curse based on the fact they had consistently beaten Australia in recent years.

“When I looked at this Australian team, I thought we had a chance,” he said.

“I knew the pitch in Kolkata was going to be tough, probably the toughest pitch in the World Cup. Often in the semi-finals, it’s the small margins, I thought we were probably 30 to 40 runs short with the bat.

“Maybe one or two smart plays in the field, you hold your catches here and there, and it really was a tense game. But it was disappointing.”

OPINION: Lack of honesty, vision precedes future Proteas failure

Photo: Gareth Copley/Getty Images