“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’s thumping 408-run victory in Guwahati, their second-biggest win by runs.
Photo: ANI
Temba Bavuma, who was a part of South African sides that were blanked 3-0 in India in both 2015 and 2019, termed it as an “incredible achievement” after South Africa sealed a 2-0 clean sweep over India to secure their first Test series win in the country in 25 years. Bavuma said that the milestone felt especially “sweeter” because he knows the frustration of being “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’s thumping 408-run victory in Guwahati, their second-biggest win by runs.
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“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,” he added.
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The reigning World Test Champions have been on a remarkable run over the last year. Since August 2024, South Africa have lost just one of their 15 Tests, with Bavuma maintaining a perfect record as captain — 12 wins in 12 matches. According to him, a refreshed mindset and a collective desire among players to “be the men for the team” have driven their resurgence.
“There’s a big shift in our mindset in terms of what we want to do when we’re out there on the field to 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,” he added.
Praise for Harmer and Maharaj
Bavuma also highlighted the impact of his premier spinners, Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj, noting that their internal competitiveness has elevated the team’s performance. That South Africa clinched the series without injured pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada made the result even more satisfying for the captain.
“Simon, as a spinner, as a player, he’s got the wealth of experience,” Bavuma said. “He complements Keshav quite well. A little bit on the taller side, a bit more guile with the ball. What I appreciate is the competitiveness between the two. They are the two guys that I have struggled to take the ball out of their hands.
“Simon was the man for us in this series. We’re so used to Kesh being that guy. We’re in a good space from a bowling point of view. A guy like Simon, Kesh as well on his days, them stepping up, having lost a guy like KG [Rabada] who was a big player for us, again speaks about the need for the guys to want to do it for the team,” he added.
It’s been a long road: Harmer
For Harmer, the series marked a triumphant return after a decade. Having toured India in 2015 with modest results, he finished this two-Test series with 17 wickets in four innings at a staggering average of 8.94. Winning the Player-of-the-Series award made the moment even more gratifying.
“It’s been a long road,” Harmer reflected. “Ten years later, back here, completely different feelings. I’m going to leave with a lot more fond memories than I did the last time but I think as a whole, as a team, for us to leave here 2-0, that was always the goal. And for us to get over the line against a very good Indian team, I think it was a hell of an effort.”
Despite his outstanding showing, Harmer acknowledged that he may not always find a place in the XI, with Maharaj still South Africa’s first-choice spinner, especially at home.
“Keshav’s record speaks for itself. He’s an incredible bowler and he deserves to be the number one spinner,” Harmer said.
“I’m very happy playing the supporting role and if the opportunity presents itself for me to play, I try and take it with both hands. At the end of the day, I just need to make sure that I’m getting better, keep trying to evolve, keep trying to get better,” he added.
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