It was a quick response for Temba Bavuma. As the Faf du Plessis was seen stepping away from the captaincy of South Africa in 2021 starting the Quinton de Kock was handed over with the reins for all the formats. Although the captaincy for the test matches was assumed to be short-term for De Kock, the limited over jobs can be permanent.
Bavuma was seen playing as a skipper for the T20 and Proteas "50-over" until March. The Proteas were never considered the favorites for the cricket better for the world cup T20 later for 2021.
According to Bavuma, he didn't expect it to be as such; he did possess a lot of fear and anxiety about the performance and how he will take the team forward to new endeavors.
Undoubtedly the appointment of Bavuma was quite historic, and he was the first black captain ever in the South African cricket team. The core reason for his appointment was his vast experience and his close relationship with many of his teammates.
He states that he is fortunate to know his teammates, especially the senior guys, as he knows them from school. He respects them and has a deep understanding of most of his teammates.
Also, he spends a lot of time with Rabada, Quinton, and Shamo off and on the field. Also, they are important players to have good relationships while serving the captaincy.
Bavuma states the importance of believing in self. As per him, the better you know about yourself, you will be less likely to be affected by what others say. He feels proud for understanding and improving every front and not losing focus from taking his team forward.
During his first ten months of working specifically in the T20 format, clear signs of improvement in the team can be seen.
South Africa was just a 3-2 win away by West Indies in World Champions and was followed by the 3-0 series in Sri Lanka and Ireland, setting South Africa as a strong contender for the T20 World Cup.
In the super-12 stage, they scored four matches out of five, which was enough for them to spot themselves in the semi-final stage.
Results were quick, but management, captaincy, and performance were taking a bit longer for Bavuma.
After scoring four single-figure scores in the innings against Ireland and West Indies, he spotted himself in the middle order for World cup matches and scored 91 runs at an average of 30.
According to Bavuma, it is a challenging task to combine both traits, but you need to be mentally fresh all the time. The captaincy role can clutter your mind, it's easy to play the sport in your head, and you never want that.
It is crucial to be crystal clear about the plans and what you are trying to do. He has to be confident in playing both roles on the field. His skillset has changed, and he is no longer the person that comes at the end of the match, just like David Miller. David is a strong batsman and can hit from the first ball. But Bavuma's role has changed, and he knows his strengths better.
He draws his inspiration from many South African batters like Hashim Amla.
His focus now switched to India's tour white-ball leg followed by the 2-1 test series win that saw him guide the team in successful matches.
His first series as a captain was in April 2021 against Pakistan, and he says it feels like a beginning of a new era on his home soil.
For the Indian team, as per Bavuma, the guys do not need any motivation. They are quite desperate for building the test series winnings because India has seen better of us in recent years.
The Indian team has the best players globally, and we understand the cricket rivalry on both sides. This is a type of series that helps us in being the best and tests our abilities. We want to continue the journey towards being the best team again.
As the results are improving quickly, under the Bavuma close encounter, the series will allow them a fair chance of winning.
