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For South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, winning in India will be second greatest victory after World Test Championship (WTC) triumph. South African are gearing up for the all-important two-match Test series against India, which is scheduled to start from November 14 at the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata. South Africa will look to break a 15-year winless streak on Indian soil, dating back to their last Test victory in 2010.
Bavuma's Unbeaten Captaincy and WTC Success
Adding a significant boost of confidence is the impressive leadership record of captain Temba Bavuma. Under his stewardship, the national side has not yet suffered a defeat in a full-strength Test series. Earlier this year, Bavuma successfully guided his country to a major milestone, the World Test Championship (WTC) final, where South Africa triumphed over Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Winning in India is high on our list of ambitions: Temba Bavuma
For Bavuma, achieving a Test victory in India would be a monumental feat for his side, second only to their WTC final glory. He stated that conquering the formidable challenge presented by Indian conditions is an ambition that has eluded the team for a long time, thus ranking the potential achievement just behind their momentous WTC victory.
“Obviously, winning the World Test Championship not much can top that. But second to that would be winning in India. It’s something we haven’t managed for a long time, so it’s definitely high on our list of ambitions,” Bavuma said at the pre-match press conference.
South Africa face an undeniable historical hurdle in their upcoming Test series, having suffered seven consecutive defeats in India across their last three tours. This prolonged run of losses underscores the immense challenge of winning in these conditions, a feat the Proteas last achieved over a decade ago.
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'Some of us have experienced the hurt before, so we know what it’s about'
Despite this difficult past, Bavuma remains highly optimistic about the team's prospects. He is confident that the current squad possesses the maturity and collective belief necessary to mount a serious challenge and reverse their fortunes. This confidence stems from the team's phenomenal recent record under the guidance of coach Shukri Conrad, as the full-strength South African Test side has remained unbeaten in a series since Conrad took charge in 2023. This successful run suggests a shift in the team's mindset and capability, which Bavuma hopes will be on display in India.
“We understand the magnitude of the challenge. Some of us have experienced the hurt before, so we know what it’s about. Looking at both teams, there’s a lot of talent, India have fantastic players, though a bit of inexperience, and it’s similar with our side. The guys are eager to test themselves against the best,” he concluded.
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