Temba Bavuma

"Temba Bavuma has been part of many firsts in South African cricket history. Bavuma became the first black African batsman picked in South Africa's Test squad. He made history as one of only four captains to get out for a duck on his leadership debut. He is still the only black African batter with a Test century for South Africa. He also became the first-ever full-time black captain for South Africa. Bavuma has always been under scrutiny but has played a pivotal role in shepherding the team through turbulent times. During the 2021 T20 World Cup, he handled the situation of Quinton de Kock, who refused to take a knee, the BLM-inspired posture of protest, with calm and dignity. Bavuma broke away from cricket's age-old 'boys played well' refrain and showed that there is at least a cricketer aware of real issues outside mammoth stadiums. Bavuma was snubbed by all the franchises in the inaugural South Africa T20 league despite being the captain of the T20 team and no one wanted him at the auction. He later joined the eventual champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape as a replacement. Despite having an impressive ODI record, the diminutive South African has played only 26 ODIs (To be updated), since making his debut in 2016. The South African captain, who opens the batting for his team and with Quinton de Kock at the other end, can play the role of sheet anchor to perfection in Indian conditions.

One-day memory: (144 against West Indies at East London, 2023)

Although the century was in a losing cause, everyone's eyes were on Bavuma's six-hitting ability. Bavuma isn't the biggest hitter, but the South African skipper scored an excellent 118-ball 144. The knock was studded with 11 fours and seven sixes.

One more thing: The most treasured moment for Bavuma's cricketing career so far has been the message he received from Brian Lara on his Test captaincy debut. ""I had to pinch myself there,"" he had said."