Bavuma speaks about why this series win is sweeter after winning a Test series in India for the first time in 25 years
Temba Bavuma praised South Africa’s “incredible achievement” after they defeated India 2-0, winning their first series there in 25 years. The triumph tasted much “sweeter,” according to Bavuma, who was on the team when South Africa lost 3-0 in India in 2019 and 3-0 in 2015. This is because he understands what it’s like to be “on the other side of the result.”
“It’s not every day that you get to think that you can come to India and walk away with a 2-0 series win,” Bavuma said after South Africa trounced India in Guwahati by 408 runs, their second-highest margin of victory ever by runs. “I think what makes it sweeter as well for some of us within the group is the fact that we’ve been on the other side of the result.
Over the past year and a half, South Africa, the current World Test Champions, have had an amazing run in Test cricket. They have only lost one of their fifteen Test matches since August 2024, and Bavuma has won every one of his twelve Test matches as captain. Bavuma claims that the main causes of South Africa’s recent success have been “guys wanting to be the men for the team” and a positive shift in thinking.
“There’s a big shift in our mindset in terms of what we want to do when we’re out there on the field of play,” Bavuma said. “We want to play what is in front of us and adapt accordingly. Guys go out there quite clear on their roles and what they’re trying to do. There’s a strong sense in each other that anyone on their day can do it for the team. As a captain, sometimes it’s very hard to take the ball out of the bowler’s hands. Everyone wants to continue bowling and you see it with the batting as well.
“We don’t have the guys who go on and score big 150s and all, but we’ll have four or five different guys going on to score 60s and 70s. I can go on forever about the team, but I feel like the team is in a good space”.