Temba Bavuma celebrates his group’s victory within the Kolkata Test. | Photo Credit: Ok.R. DEEPAK

There is now wide-ranging acceptance that attacking batting is the most effective type of defence, particularly on pitches that favour the bowlers disproportionately. But Temba Bavuma is an old school batter who seemingly thinks in any other case.

“I attempt to mess around my defence,” Bavuma mentioned on Sunday, after main his aspect to a 30-run victory over India right here and assist take a 1-0 lead within the two-match Test collection.

“You’d anticipate the best way the wicket performed, extra from day three, day 4 onwards.

“That being mentioned, that is what you anticipate if you come to India. And I feel there are areas that we are able to enhance inside our batting. We will be sure that we take the little learnings and are available out a greater outfit within the second Test.”

The 35-year-old mentioned that India shedding captain Shubman Gill to a neck spasm that restricted his batting to 4 runs within the first essay was a bonus.

“You want a bit of little bit of luck. Unfortunately, they misplaced their captain and he’s clearly a giant participant. I assume that in all probability made issues barely simpler for us.”

Simon Harmer was the Player of the Match for his eight wickets and Bavuma acknowledged that the 36-year-old had bolstered South Africa in a giant manner.

“Simon’s obtained over a thousand wickets (in First Class cricket). So he is aware of what he’s doing. He is tall, so the ball clearly comes from a better trajectory. And he has good management of his tempo and he’s in a position to put revs on it. He has made our bowling, particularly spin, extra formidable as we relied closely [earlier] on Keshav [Maharaj].”

Published – November 16, 2025 08:42 pm IST