From hurt to hope: Temba Bavuma’s champion Proteas ready to conquer India

Just five months after lifting the ICC World Test Championship mace, Temba Bavuma and his Proteas team face arguably their toughest examination yet at the iconic Eden Gardens.

It has been 29 years since the Proteas last won a Test at the citadel of Indian cricket, and 15 years since they triumphed anywhere across this vast country. None of the current squad has ever tasted the sweet success of a Test victory on Indian soil.

At times during the intervening period, it has seemed as though South Africa were destined never to prevail there again, especially after the 3-0 humbling they suffered on their last visit in 2019.

Bavuma was part of that disastrous tour, managing just 98 runs with a top score of 38 and an average of 16 across the series. Needless to say, the going was rough.

“You know, coming to India is never easy. We understand the magnitude of the challenge,” Bavuma acknowledged yesterday. “Some of us in the group, there have been moments of hurt having come from India.”

But if the phrase “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” were embodied in an individual, Bavuma would be it. The Proteas skipper has endured plenty of hardship in the years since — most notably at the very same Eden Gardens, where he played through injury in the World Cup semi-final defeat to Australia two years ago.

That match was the culmination of a difficult 2023 World Cup campaign for Bavuma as ODI captain — part of the trauma that helped shape the man who would later bring home South Africa’s first major ICC silverware in 27 years.

“From a captaincy point of view, the 2023 World Cup wasn’t the greatest for me — and from a batting point of view too — so I can understand why criticism came from that,” Bavuma said. “But I think it’s always felt like a process of discovery. You’re always learning a bit more about yourself.

“You start off with an understanding of how you want to go about things from a leadership point of view, but as time goes on, as things happen, and as you work with different coaches, your approach evolves. I think now I’m a lot more comfortable in my own skin.”

The importance of that final line cannot be overstated. Bavuma remains the first Black African Proteas captain — and the torchbearer for Black African batters.

In a race-conscious country like South Africa, that still carries immense weight, with each of Bavuma’s performances placed under a microscope.

However, he feels that since the Proteas’ World Test Championship triumph at Lord’s — where he battled through a torn hamstring to score a courageous 66 in a historic run chase — he has earned greater recognition.

The fact that head coach Shukri Conrad routinely refers to Bavuma as “our best player”, a claim backed by the numbers — an average of 59.25 over the past two years and an unbeaten record in Test series since taking over the captaincy — has only reinforced his stature.

“Look, I think back home there’s been a major shift in mindset towards the Proteas and towards cricket,” Bavuma said. “There’s been a lot more appreciation and love shown towards the team, but also towards individuals within it.

“For me personally, there’s probably been a lot more appreciation for my presence within the team, and that’s been good to see.”

That new-found affection would only deepen should Bavuma lead the Proteas to a rare and historic series win in India.

“Coming here to India is always a big challenge,” he said. “As a team, you want to be successful in these types of conditions.

“I think it’s just something you take in your stride. We have a strong belief that if you keep going and keep pushing, things are bound to happen.

“So yes, confidence is probably the biggest word back home — but for us, it’s about being confident that we can continue being the number-one team.”