Temba Bavuma Makes History as First Captain in 148 Years to Achieve Extraordinary Feat
In a remarkable achievement, Temba Bavuma has made history as the first Test captain in 148 years to accomplish an extraordinary feat. Under his leadership, South Africa secured a 30-run victory over India at Eden Gardens, marking their first Test win in India in 15 years.
Temba Bavuma’s Historic Leadership
South Africa set a challenging target of 124 runs for India, who ultimately fell short, getting bowled out for just 93. This match was notable as it reflected a significant turnaround for South Africa’s Test team, which has thrived under Bavuma’s captaincy.
Key Match Details
- Match Outcome: South Africa won by 30 runs
- Location: Eden Gardens, India
- Target Set: 124 runs
- India’s Innings: Bowled out for 93
- Significance: First South Africa Test win in India in 15 years
Notable performances included South African spinner Simon Harmer, who took four wickets in the second innings, crippling India’s batting lineup. Marco Jansen also made an impact by claiming early wickets, removing Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, putting India’s chase on shaky ground.
Impact of Temba Bavuma’s Captaincy
Since assuming the captaincy, Bavuma has transformed the fortunes of the South African Test side. He has led the team to 10 victories in 11 matches, including a notable win in the World Test Championship final against Australia. This performance has made Bavuma the fastest cricketer to win 10 Test matches without a loss as captain.
Record of Test Wins as Captain
| Player | Matches as Captain | Wins | Losses | Draws | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temba Bavuma | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 2024-2025 |
| Warwick Armstrong (Australia) | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1902-1921 |
| Brian Close (England) | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1949-1976 |
| Charles Fry (England) | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1896-1912 |
India’s Struggles and Historical Context
India’s failure to chase down the 124-run target marked a significant moment, as it became the second-lowest total the team has failed to chase in their history. The only lower total was 120 runs against the West Indies in 1997.
Lowest Targets India Failed to Chase
- 120 vs West Indies – Bridgetown 1997
- 124 vs South Africa – Eden Gardens 2025
- 147 vs New Zealand – Wankhede 2024
- 176 vs Sri Lanka – Galle 2015
- 193 vs England – Lord’s 2025
- 194 vs England – Edgbaston 2017
The test match was also significant for being the first instance in Test cricket where neither team surpassed the 200-run mark while playing in India. Overall, there have been only 12 such Tests recorded in history, with the last occurrence dated back to 1959.
