AB de Villiers, the former South African star, has lauded Temba Bavuma's Test captaincy, drawing parallels between his leadership style and that of MS Dhoni. De Villiers stated that Bavuma's calm and composed demeanor is similar to Dhoni's, who was known for his quiet yet effective leadership.
Bavuma's captaincy has been remarkable, leading South Africa to an unbeaten streak in 12 Test matches, with 11 wins and one draw. This includes a recent 2-0 series sweep against India. Under his leadership, South Africa clinched the World Test Championship (WTC) title in June, defeating Australia and ending a 27-year title drought. This victory was celebrated widely, with many praising Bavuma's leadership and the team's performance.
De Villiers admitted he initially had reservations about Bavuma's appointment as Test captain but has since been proven wrong. Speaking on Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube channel, de Villiers said, "Bavuma has surprised everyone with his outstanding leadership". He added, "I was unsure at first; whether to trust him or not. You should never judge someone by appearance". De Villiers emphasized that Bavuma's leadership demonstrates that effective leadership can manifest in different ways.
De Villiers contrasted Bavuma's style with that of former captain Graeme Smith, noting that Bavuma is not as outwardly intimidating or loud. Instead, Bavuma earns respect through his calmness, a trait reminiscent of MS Dhoni. "He doesn't look like this big Graeme Smith with the aura and intimidating presence. Temba is a small, soft-spoken guy; he hardly ever raises his voice," de Villiers said. "It shows you that different styles of captaincy can be successful. I think it was similar with MS Dhoni back in the day. I hardly ever heard his voice. He was calm, didn't speak much, but when he did, people listened".
Bavuma has become the first South African captain since Hansie Cronje in 2000 to win a Test series in India. He was also named Player of the Match in the opening Test in Kolkata for his resilient half-century in the second innings. Furthermore, he is the first South African captain to secure an ICC trophy since Cronje, with the WTC victory.
South Africa's coach, Shukri Conrad, has also praised Bavuma as one of the best batters in the world over the past couple of years. Conrad highlighted Bavuma's match-winning innings at Eden Gardens against India, emphasizing his clarity and unique approach. "In the last 18-24 months he has been one of the best players in the world and he showed that again," Conrad said. He also noted that Bavuma's presence brings calmness to the team.
Bavuma's journey has been marked by unfair criticism, particularly early in his career when he was labeled as the first black African Test batter for South Africa. Despite these challenges, he has proven his capabilities as a leader and a player, earning the respect and admiration of fans and fellow cricketers alike. His success has led to apologies from those who previously doubted him, with some calling him the greatest cricket captain South Africa has ever had.
