Mumbai: South Africa’s ICC World Test Championship (WTC) winning captain Temba Bavuma has acknowledged that touring India is never easy, adding that his team will draw inspiration from New Zealand’s historic 2024 series win in India — their first in 12 years.
Speaking on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai on Tuesday, Bavuma discussed South Africa’s upcoming all-format tour of India, which begins with a two-Test series starting November 14.
“Touring India is never an easy one,” Bavuma said. “The way New Zealand went about their business was inspiring. A lot of visiting teams struggle here, so we’ll take a page out of their book. I heard Kane Williamson will be around, so I’ll definitely be asking him for a few tips.”
The Proteas skipper noted that the tour of India would follow their series against Pakistan, calling it another major challenge for his side.
“The boys will handle Pakistan first, and then it’s straight to India. Those who’ve toured before know how tough it is, but like any series, opportunities will be there,” he added.
Bavuma also praised India’s new Test captain Shubman Gill, calling him an exciting player, while acknowledging the transition from stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
“It feels like a new era has begun. Rohit and Kohli did their job — they made India a team to fear. This transition doesn’t take anything away from what they’ve done; it’s just how the game evolves. The younger players they’ve inspired are now taking over. Our job as South Africa is to make sure India doesn’t dominate as much,” Bavuma said.
Discussing India’s likely use of spin-friendly pitches, Bavuma said his team would not be surprised if the hosts relied heavily on their strong spin attack featuring Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar, following Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement.
“Indian spinners bowl differently in home conditions — usually quicker and flatter. That’s always a challenge for visiting teams. But with the IPL and other leagues, players now have a better understanding of how to succeed in these conditions,” he said.
“Even though IPL wickets are good for batting, the experience helps. Players share knowledge about what works here. It’s not something we’re naturally used to in South Africa, but we’re more informed now,” Bavuma added.
Bavuma also looked forward to his first Test series as captain in India, drawing parallels with Gill leading the hosts for the first time.
“With both of us captaining our sides in India for the first time, it adds some interesting subplots — little stories that make the game even more beautiful,” he said.
He also praised India’s recent performance in their WTC 2025–27 opener against England, where a young team managed a 2–2 draw despite the absence of senior players.
“Those guys held their own and more. England isn’t an easy place to tour. The Indian cricket community can take a lot of confidence from that. KL Rahul stepping up at the top was particularly impressive,” Bavuma remarked.
Reflecting on South Africa’s recent WTC triumph, Bavuma expressed confidence in the team’s growth and hunger for more success.
“Part of my legacy as captain is to leave the team in a strong position — a side that wins ICC events. We’ve come close before, and that pain has only driven us harder. This victory gives us belief to push even further in future tournaments,” he concluded.
