The best captain of 2025 in Test cricket has been Temba Bavuma. He has elevated himself to one of the great sporting leaders in his South Africa's famous history, leading South Africa to a first major
ICC title with a victory over Australia in the World Test Championship Final. The Proteas beat Australia by 5 wickets at Lord’s, thanks to 136 scored by Aiden Markram, but also a determined and brave 66 by Bavuma during the 282-run chase, despite batting with a strained hamstring and clear pain. Leading from the front, Bavuma ensured that his team eliminated their long-time mental hurdle, and produced a win that could prove to be a remarkable flashpoint for South African cricket.
Beyond going where no South African captain had gone before, Bavuma also made history by doing something no Test captain for any country in the history of the sport had done before, rising to the top of a historic list. Bavuma’s eight Test win in a row was also his ninth win overall in his first ten matches as Test captain. With a record of 9 wins and one draw, with no losses, Bavuma officially became the most successful captain in Test cricket in their first 10 matches. Bavuma broke a century-old record, taking over the mantle from English captain Percy Chapman, who had nine wins but also a solitary loss when he took over English captaincy in 1926.
Temba Bavuma, then led South Africa to a 2-0 win over India in Test series. This was a huge achievement as South Africa managed to win a Test series in India after 25 years. With the bat, Temba Bavuma averages more than 50 as captain and has been instrumental. He added another milestone to his captaincy record on Day 1 of the second Test in Guwahati, where he became the ninth South African to score 1000 runs as Test captain. He reached the landmark in his 20th innings, the joint second-fastest for the country alongside Dudley Nourse and behind only Graeme Smith, who got there in 17.
That series win in India has extended his unbeaten run as Test captain to 12 games, and he now has the most wins (11) of any Test captain in history before their first defeat. The next best is Mike Brearley, who won 10 matches in 15 before losing a match as England captain from 1977-1978. Bavuma has been the best Test captain of 2025 without a doubt.
