By Bharath Ramaraj
Despite his rather modest numbers in Asia, Temba Bavuma is clearly the central figure of the South African Test side. The visitors will be looking up to Bavuma to lead from the front, both with the bat and through his captaincy.
Leadership is a subjective quality that cannot be quantified. In cricket, one could argue that wins and losses are the measure of a captain. But the caveat here is that a team’s success also depends on the resources available. So, what is leadership in this context?
Perhaps Temba Bavuma’s captaincy can help us understand its subtleties. For Bavuma, leadership isn’t just about executing tactics to outsmart opponents. He is also leading a group of players from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities. Consider how he handled the delicate situation during the 2021 T20 World Cup when Quinton de Kock, a white player, withdrew from taking a knee before a game.
Bavuma’s statement at a press conference went as follows: “As a team, we are surprised by the news,” he said. “Quinton is a big player for the team, not just with the bat but from a senior point of view, so not having this at my disposal as a captain is obviously something I wasn’t looking forward to. In saying that, Quinton is an adult. He is a man in his own shoes. We respect his decision, we respect his convictions, and I know he will be standing behind the decision he has taken.”
The above lines indicate how Bavuma strikes a balance, ensuring the player didn’t feel alienated while also expressing quiet displeasure. Even on the field, Bavuma has showcased exceptional leadership qualities. After 27 years, a senior South African side finally won an ICC event, the World Test Championship final and it came under Bavuma’s captaincy.
Bavuma’s leadership undoubtedly played a role in that triumph. Australia, their opponent, took a healthy first-innings lead of 74. South Africa then dropped crucial chances in the second innings. Despite that, they managed to chase down the target of 281. Not just as captain, Bavuma also made a vital contribution of 66 in the second innings.
In fact, since the start of January 2023, Bavuma has averaged an impressive 56.64 in Test cricket. One of the knocks that stands out in that phase is a 70 against Sri Lanka in Durban. On a pitch where the ball was seaming around consistently in the first innings, his effort lifted South Africa to a competitive total of 191. A couple of Tests later, he shepherded South Africa’s middle order after they had found themselves in a spot of bother at 44 for 3. Neither of the mentioned knocks turned into hundreds, but in the larger context, both were pivotal to the team’s cause.
Detractors will still point out that Bavuma should have converted some of his fifties into centuries. To some extent, the criticism is valid, although he has notched up a few more Test tons in recent times.
Ahead of the India–South Africa Test series, there remains one question: can Bavuma master Indian conditions? A look through his numbers in Asia suggests his game hasn’t yet fully adapted to spin-friendly surfaces.
The experienced batter averages a little over 28 in Asia. His tendency to play with bat and pad close together against spin is perhaps one of the reasons for his modest returns in these conditions. Bavuma, however, will be quietly confident of penning a new chapter when South Africa take on India at the iconic Eden Gardens in the first Test.
Bavuma is clearly the central figure of the South African Test set-up, and the focus will be on him to lead the side from the front in India.
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