Jasprit Bumrah was seen putting an arm around Temba Bavuma at Eden Gardens and possibly burying the hatchet, as two of the greatest characters compete in the Test series. But a large part of India’s cricket fandom has also woken up to the impressive impact that Bavuma is having on the international game. Though he led South Africa to the World Test Championships beating Australia, it needed his defiant innings of 55 in the Kolkata Test win, for many Indians to realise his ongoing greatness.
He also brought in Game of Thrones final episode and Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan. “Valar morghulis mein koun bachtaa hai? (Who endures in the last episode). Kya Amitji ki chalti hai Jaya ji ke saamne?”
But it is in Bavuma’s social media posts that you uncover an astonishingly calm, champion captain, even back in time when he faced blatant trolling and racism. With a mix of humour and self assurance, Bavuma seems to have defended stoutly against verbals with a bad bounce – just like the Eden wicket.
Once in 2021, New Zealand big hitter Colin Munro, narrated a fascinating tale on the Top Order podcast, Colin Munro narrated how the smartest sledge he’d heard of in cricket came from Bavuma.
“My sledging would just be saying, effing this and effing that. It wasn’t even really smart,” Munro recalled. “I was talking to the Kiwi boys and one of the funniest things they heard was…. They were playing a Test match against South Africa…and Neil Wagner obviously being South African born… was bowling to Temba Bavuma. Temba was playing because AB de Villiers was injured or having a rest. So Waggy’s running around the workout ball and bouncing Temba and said, ‘Temba you lucky you playing this game. We’re going to play cricket next when AB comes back.'”
Wagner known for his demon speed from an almighty large hearted action, carried on sledging for an over or two. Munro continued: “Eventually he said it one more time…. and Temba just said, “Listen Waggie, If I want to play some more cricket, I’ll just move to New Zealand.” Guffaws all round. “I thought that was a real good one. I thought if that can keep Waggie quiet that’s a real good one,” Munro added.
What’s scintillating was Bavuma would respond to that podcast post asking Munro, “What happened to ‘what happens on the field, stays on the field?!”
But the banter would get legendary, as Wagner responded like a sport, “One of the best fines ever too.”
Munro recalled he wasn’t there it’s just one of the best ones he’d heard. “Two little men with huge hearts and a hunger to win. It’s great to watch.”
But his international journey has been anything but light-hearted, with absolutely needless incidents piling up. Ahead of the 2023 World Cup, besides the many memes of a clearly under the weather Bavuma wrapped in a blanket getting trollish cackles, there was one that Bavuma felt like responding to.
When the Barmy Army posted, “Bavuma has just fallen asleep in World Cup captains conference,” the lead Protea had replied, “I blame the camera angle, I wasn’t sleeping.” While that World Cup ended in a semifinal nightmare loss at Kolkata, Bavuma won over everyone – the English cricket fans and Australia when he led Saffers to WTC title at Lord’s with the Barmies singing for him, and over Australia who were beaten. Then he came to Kolkata, and bowled over Indian fans – with the chirping never ceasing.
Perhaps his most statesmanlike moment, and shining on his timeline, came on 24 September 2020 celebrated as South Africa’s Heritage Day. It was a regular uniting post: “Our heritage is more than just a word, it’s our identity. It’s looking in the mirror & recognizing who we are because we know where & from who we come from. I’m a proud Xhosa man & a proud South African – honoured to be part of a nation of so many races,cultures,religions & creeds.” But it was the photograph that accompanied the words: him and Quinton de Kock, arm in arms on the field. Not too long after, de Kock refused to take the knee for Black Lives Matter. But the friendship endured. A strong message was sent.
But there’s plenty of other adorable Bavuma things on hid Twitter. Like one from back in 2013, when he said, “Cricket = Sachin sir ❤️”, or his love for Liverpool – coincidentally just like the other Protea great, Graeme Smith. He also posted a broken heart when Messi left Barcelona, and surprisingly had posted back in the day his admiration for how an Indian batsman dealt with vicious spin. He was talking about Gautam Gambhir, when he batted for KKR in a tight game.
Carefully nurturing race relations and proving the Saffers could win, has been the highlight. But Bavuma also runs a foundation involved in helping destitutes. His foundation in August 21 started distributing dignity packs for women, in tough financial situations. These dignity packs had sanitary pads, bath soap, face cloth, tooth paste, tooth brush and roll on deodorants.
His last post : One wishing the SA Women’s team good luck at the Women’s World Cup. He wrote: “South Africa stands on the cusp of history tomorrow. The Proteas Women take on India in the final of the women’s ODI World Cup. Their journey has been one of grit, grace and pure fearlessness. This is not just another match in Mumbai, it’s a moment of significance, a legacy defining opportunity to affirm that women sports matters just as much. Now in the same way you stood behind us as the Proteas Men, your support and energy is all that is asked for.
All the best to coach Mandla, captain Laura and their team tomorrow, we are behind you!”
Poignant amongst the pointed birthday wishes was one for Makhaya Ntini, respected for what he has done for Black cricketers in South Africa as pioneer. “Happy birthday Mkhuluwa. We are grateful for today,” Bavuma would write in 2021.
Perhaps Temba Bavuma’s most important birthday message was the one he posted for himself in May of 2021. “My life journey has been amazing thus far. On this day I wish myself a life filled to the brim with happiness and the strength to deal with all that comes my way.” Right this moment that’s a lot of accolades and admiration of the world.
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