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In a significant revelation following the high-stakes cricket series between India and South Africa, Proteas captain Temba Bavuma has broken his silence regarding the unsavoury on-field comments directed at him. While the series was marked by intense competition and emotional highs, including South Africa’s historic Test victory on Indian soil after 25 years, these off-field reconciliations have become the center of discussion.
Temba Bavuma recounts the ‘Bauna’ remark by Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah
The controversy centered on an incident during the first Test where microphones and lip-reading fans picked up the term ‘Bauna’, a Hindi word for ‘short’ or ‘midget’, used in reference to Bavuma. Reflecting on the moment, Bavuma admitted he was initially unaware of the specific insult due to the language barrier. “I know from my side there was an incident where they said something in their language about me,” Bavuma wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo.
Bavuma confirmed that senior Indian players Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant personally reached out to apologize for using a derogatory term regarding his height during the opening Test match in Kolkata. He highlighted the professionalism shown afterward, stating, “At the end of the day two senior players, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah, came and apologised.” The captain explained his reaction to the delayed realization: “When the apology was made, I was in the dark about what it was about, I hadn’t heard it at the time and I needed to check in with our media manager about it.”
Despite the personal nature of the remark, Bavuma chose to maintain a professional outlook on the rivalry. He emphasized that while the words were stinging, they did not lead to long-term animosity: “What happens on the field, stays on the field but you don’t forget what is said. You use it as fuel and motivation, but there are no grudges per se.”\
Bavuma addresses coach Shukri Conrad’s ‘grovel’ comment and test series aftermath
Beyond the insults directed at him, Bavuma addressed the friction caused by his own camp when coach Shukri Conrad suggested they wanted to make India ‘grovel.’ This specific word carries heavy historical weight in cricket, harking back to Tony Greig’s infamous 1976 remarks against the West Indies. Bavuma acknowledged the discomfort this caused: “The first time I heard about it, it had that unsavoury taste to it, but I think it just reminded me how tough and competitive the Test series was.”
Bavuma stood by his coach’s character but agreed that the phrasing was a misstep in such a sensitive environment. “Shukri also took some heat for his ‘grovel’ remark. I was put under pressure by the media on that side, asking me to clarify the comments,” Bavuma noted. He concluded by confirming that Conrad had addressed the issue internally and publicly: “In hindsight, he said he could have chosen a better word and I agree with him.” Ultimately, Bavuma described the tour as a grueling mental challenge that left ‘scars,’ yet he remains proud of his team’s resilience in winning a Test match in India, a feat that had eluded the Proteas for a quarter of a century.
