Captain Temba Bavuma, equanimous hero for the Proteas

Kolkata: Temba Bavuma, recalling his meeting with former New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson at a recent awards ceremony in Mumbai, showed off his lighter side. Last year, New Zealand stunned India 3-0 in their own conditions and Bavuma said he tried to glean some winning tips from the Kiwi great.   

Delivered with a straight face, his deadpan humour had the press room in splits.

Not too long ago, though, he was at the centre of South Africa's humiliating exit from the 2023 World Cup in India. His form had deserted him, fitness concerns persisted and the abject capitulation had everyone baying for his head. The smile that now lights up his face had been wiped away by the weight of criticism and his own disappointment.

The World Test Championship triumph, however, has turned the narrative around Bavuma. Compliments have replaced criticism while questions are wrapped in respect.

“It wasn’t the greatest of World Cups for me from a batting point of view. So, I can understand why the criticism would have come from that point,” said Bavuma to a pointed question.

“I think that’s probably more from a player’s point of view. From a captain’s point of view, for me, it’s always felt like a process of discovery, learning a little bit more about yourself. You start with an understanding of how you want to go about things from a leadership point of view. But as time goes by and you work with different coaches, that generally comes to the vault. I think now, I’m a lot more comfortable in my own skin.

“There’s no case of wanting to prove to myself, or the players, or the people back home that I’m deserving of the titles. I think the results that we’ve achieved speak for themselves. And I think the type of reaction that I get from the players, I think that’s what speaks for itself,” remarked Bavuma.

 
South Africa's infamous history of imploding in big tournaments, often on the cusp of glory, had hung around their cricketers' neck like millstone. The WTC win has altered the perception about them and enhanced their own belief.

Bavuma, the stoic persona, remains equanimous as ever. While he savours the good times now, the 35-year-old is aware tough times can return any time. 

“The criticisms are not going to go away. As long as you’re in these positions, the magnifying glass is always going to be on you. So, that’s just something that you’re going to accept.

“You obviously have your ambitions and expectations. But you also know that life can happen, cricket can happen, you come against other opposition who are as good as you are, and they can show you up. So, yeah, try to take it day by day and just try to enjoy it as well.” 
What has fuelled Bavuma's growing stature within his team is his form with the bat. In the last 11 Tests over two years, Bavuma has scored 953 runs at an average of 56.64 with three hundreds and five half-centuries.  

"Temba for us, he's our best player," said Proteas' coach Shukri Conard. "It's as simple as that, which makes winning a Test match in Pakistan so much better for us that we were able to do it without our best player. So a lot of feel-good, a lot of confidence. "And if you take the last, what, two years maybe, he's been one of the best players... So his record speaks for itself, the calmness he brings to the batting unit, his leadership, his quiet demeanour. Yeah, we get a lot of feel-good from that, and he certainly brings a lot of confidence." 

From being a captain under fire to one leading by performance, Bavuma has been a blessing for a team and country that are looking to bury past divisions and build bridges between communities.