Proteas captain Temba Bavuma doesn't get the recognition he deserves, says India legend Anil Kumble

Former India Test captain and ICC Hall of Famer Anil Kumble believes Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma deserves to sit at the table of the modern-day greats of world cricket. 

Bavuma has previously received plenty of criticism, primarily due to the Proteas disappointments in the white-ball formats, but his stature as a Test leader has grown exponentially over the past two years. 

Since being appointed the full-time Test captain by coach Shukri Conrad in February 2023, Bavuma has yet to lose a series. In fact, he’s guided the Proteas to 10 victories out of 11 matches. 

The 35-year-old also brought unbridled joy to the nation when he led the Proteas’ to the World Test Championship title after a historic victory over Australia at Lord’s back in June. 

It was South Africa’s first victory in a major ICC final since 1998. He has now followed it up with another magical triumph after playing a pivotal role in the Proteas winning their first Test in India for 15 years after their thrilling victory over the hosts at Eden Gardens last weekend. 

“Credit to Temba Bavuma—he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves as a captain,’ Kumble, who is India's leading wicket-taker with 619 scalps, said. 

“He has won 10 out of 11 Test matches as skipper for South Africa and has won a (World) Test Championship for them. He doesn’t get the kind of credit other international captains receive.”

Bavuma has led from the front during this period. He has been the Proteas’ top run-scorer the past two years with 769 runs at an average of 59.15. 

Prior to him being appointed Test captain, Bavuma had scored just one century - against England at Newlands in 2016 - in the previous nine years of his Test career. He has since scored two more and a further six half centuries. 

The skipper has also shown the ability to step up in the clutch moments with a half-century in the successful WTC Final run chase, and another crucial 55 not out at Eden Gardens that helped the Proteas set up a winning target. 

“As a batter, too, he has produced two quality innings, one in the WTC final and one here (in Kolkata), literally back-to-back since he wasn’t available for Pakistan. He has done exceptionally well both as a player and a skipper,” said Kumble.

The former leg-spinner was also impressed the way Bavuma has manoeuvred his bowling unit in the field with the Proteas skipper not afraid to make critical decisions. 

“I thought he did really well in bringing on Aiden Markram when there were two left-handers at the crease. Washington Sundar had a good look at Simon Harmer and seemed comfortable. And maybe that one over from Keshav Maharaj, I felt that was where he got the wrong bowler on, because Axar was certainly taking him on,” Kumble said. 

“But he took a gamble that ultimately paid off. It cost South Africa 16 runs, but it paid off. Overall, I thought his usage of bowlers was excellent. He never used Wiaan Mulder at all in the innings. He ensured that the tall Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, and the two spinners along with the smart use of Markram were enough.”