Temba Bavuma Returns as South Africa’s Test Captain for India Series

Temba Bavuma finally returns to the Test format for the series against India. He was not able to play for the team in the series against Pakistan, being ruled out due to calf strain. And now, he marks his comeback to the Test format as a skipper.

1. Bavuma’s Captaincy Stint

Bavuma was able to go to the finals being undefeated by any team against whom he led the Proteas. Thus, it was also necessary for him to ensure that the undefeated momentum continued even in the most important stage. Fortunately, he was able to shine with the bat as well, which helped South Africa to the WTC final.

The South African skipper has now maintained a record of being undefeated in the Test format as a captain. Leading the side in 10 games, he was able to help the team win 9 matches, and one of them ended in a draw. His winning percentage in the WTC is more than the greatest Test captains, such as Virat Kohli, Pat Cummins, and many more.

Temba Bavuma has been one of the late bloomers in the longest format of the game. He started playing Tests for South Africa from 2014, but his form took a rise after 2020. Over the last five years, his average has been above 50 in four of them, showcasing his remarkable consistency in this format.

Temba Bavuma in Tests:

In his Test career, Bavuma had scored just one Test century from 2014 to 2022. But after that, he has managed to score three tons in this format, and all of them have come at the time when the team needed them the most. This year, he just two Test matches, and his average stands at 69.33, with a century and a half-century.

Temba Bavuma led his team from the front in the World Test Championship 2023-25 final against Australia. In the first innings of the game, he ended up scoring just 36 runs off 84 balls. But in the chase, Bavuma looked dedicated to helping South Africa win the title. Thus, he ended up scoring 66 runs off 134 balls, playing a vital role in the chase.

India and South Africa have had a great time lately in the series they have played previously. In its previous Test series, India secured a win over the West Indies by 2-0, which marked their first home series win since the whitewash against New Zealand. On the other hand, South Africa also had a draw against Pakistan by 1-1, which puts them in a competitive position against India.

South Africa tour of India Schedule (Tests):

South Africa has already announced its squad for the Test series, which starts from 14 November. With the Indian team being ready for the T20I series against Australia, fans are waiting for the selectors to announce the Test squad for the home series against South Africa.