Temba Bavuma will lead South Africa in a two-match Test series against India. The series opener will be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata from November 14 to 18 and Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium
will host the second match from November 22 to 26. Ahead of the start of the two-match Test series in front of Indian fans, Bavuma has fired a warning to Team India.
According to Bavuma, who hasn’t played a Test match since leading South Africa to World Test Championship (WTC) title in June 2025 against Australia at the Lord’s, there’s a massive opportunity for his team to win a Test series in India.
“I think as a South African team, I don’t think we’ve won a Test series here in India for a long time. So, I think there’s a massive opportunity there and I think there’s a big target on our backs as a South African Test team,” Bavuma was quoted as saying by PTI on Wednesday.
South Africa last won a Test series in India in 2000 under Hansie Cronje’s leadership.
“I think there’s expectation on us (as world champions),” Bavuma added.
Bavuma does not foresee the upcoming Test series become an easier assignment due to retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma but he feels his team has a stronger chance of winning after 25 years thanks to its quality spin attack.
“It’s always tough playing in India. You’ve seen the young talent that has come in. The guys come in, they are all filling the boots. It is a big task,” Bavuma said.
“Those guys you mentioned have performed over a number of years for India, and they’ve put India on the map of where they are. But yeah, we’ll prepare as well as we can, understand the challenges that we’ll find here, and strive to put our best foot forward,” Bavuma added.
One of the weaknesses that Bavuma would like to exploit is Indian batters’ recent discomfort against quality spin. Their travails against New Zealand spinners last year have not escaped his eyes.
“Bowling has always been a strength of ours as a team. Now, we’re probably even better poised with those spin resources. We have Tristan Stubbs as well, if we do need another off-spinner, he can come in with something different,” he noted.
Bavuma also mentioned the three quality spinners in the South African line-up -— left-arm spinners Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthuswamy and off-spinner Simon Harmer.
“You need the bowlers to be able to take 20 wickets, right? I think now we’re quite confident in our ability and if the conditions are saying that spin is the threat, then at least we have the resources,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
