Exclusive: ‘No Team Is Unbeatable’ – Temba Bavuma Back in Action and Backing Proteas for India Challenge

Proteas Test captain reiterated that his team brings confidence to the daunting Test series in India as the 35-year-old is set to return to action in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Bavuma’s Return

Proteas Test captain Temba Bavuma is set to return to action tomorrow during the second Four-Day game between South Africa ‘A’ and India ‘A’ at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Bavuma has been sidelined since South Africa’s ODI series in England due to a calf strain. The 35-year-old has since missed the two-match Test series against Pakistan.

The right-handed batter is set to play his first red-ball cricket game since South Africa’s victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June.

With that in mind, Bavuma is looking forward to getting time out in the middle and dusting off any cobwebs.

“My last Test game was Lord’s, so quite a while back. I think that the SA ‘A’ game, the Four-Day game, it's important just to get time on the feet, get the body used to being out in the sun, dust off any cobwebs, opportunity to bat in the middle,” Bavuma told SportsBoom.co.za.

“So, start getting that familiar feeling, try and find some sort of rhythm, especially in these conditions. But, mainly, just to spend some time out in the sun.”

Test Record in India

South Africa has had very tough Test tours in India over the last decade, failing to win a single Test match in seven Tests. Bavuma was part of the Proteas squad in all seven games, meaning, alongside Kagiso Rabada, who debuted in India ten years ago, they are yet to win a Test in India.

Bavuma explained the prospect of playing Test cricket in India as a daunting task.

“It’s my third tour, Test tour that is, with the Proteas in India. The challenge is always a daunting one; it's always a challenging one. Previous two Test tours, we've been unsuccessful as a team, so we're obviously looking to do that right and to rectify that,” Bavuma told SportsBoom.co.za.

“The conditions, we obviously expect spin to play a big part as it normally does in the subcontinent. The Indian team do have firepower in their seeming, in their seam bowling resources, so we expect that to be a challenge as well, maybe reverse swing to come into play, but we expect that to be challenging in all aspects."

“The Indian batters, as well, in their conditions, know how to score big hundreds. So, it’s important that we also find ways to put them under pressure, but we expect the series to be tough.”

No team is unbeatable

About a year ago, New Zealand toured India for a three-match Test series and put on a masterclass on how to beat India in India. South Africa will have that series in mind, knowing that this India Test team is beatable at home.

Bavuma praised the Blackcaps for their effort during the 3-0 whitewash of India and says the Proteas will be looking to replicate their success.

“No team is unbeatable, right? Yes, home conditions give them that home advantage or extra advantage, but no one is unbeatable. New Zealand played very well in that series,” Bavuma said.

“Batters were fearless, bowlers executed their plans very well, and fielders fielded well as well, took their catches. So, those are the type of things that we'll also be looking to do."

“We take confidence from the fact that we've been able to be victorious in these types of conditions. Yes, outside of Indian conditions."

“We do have a familiarity or some sort of a blueprint when it comes to playing in these conditions. We come here with confidence, having come from the Pakistan series and our performance in the Pakistan Test. I guess it's a case of just building on that.”

South Africa’s two-match Test series against India is set to get underway from 14-18 November with the First Test in Eden Gardens and conclude with the second Test from 22-26 November in Guwahati.