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"I Was Locked In The Bathroom": Bavuma Recalls How He Nearly Derailed SA’s WTC Run

Kaushik Kashyap

Temba Bavuma for South Africa. [Source - Ganeshverse/x.com]Temba Bavuma for South Africa. [Source - Ganeshverse/x.com]

As South Africa prepares to face Australia in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s from June 11, the moment marks a significant chapter in the nation’s cricketing history. After two years of remarkable consistency in the longest format, the Proteas stand on the brink of glory.

Captain Bavuma's Emotional Path to Cricket’s Grandest Stage

Captain Temba Bavuma’s journey to this point adds a deeper emotional weight to the occasion. Hailing from Langa, a township in Cape Town, Bavuma has come a long way to become South Africa’s first Black Test batter and now leads the side into a world event final.

It's an achievement he described as a dream come true in a recent interview with The Guardian. Under his leadership, South Africa overcame immense odds to qualify to play against the defending champions Australia in the WTC Final ahead of the two powerhouses like India and England.

The Edge That Wasn’t: Bavuma Relives His Almost-Crushing WTC Blunder

However, there was a moment where the campaign nearly derailed in the first Test in Centurion against Pakistan. South Africa needed 148 to win on a tricky surface, when Bavuma, who was the top scorer for the Proteas in that innings, mistakenly walked off after believing he edged one, though replays showed he hadn’t.

“I thought I’d nicked the ball. I was locked in the bathroom. I was taking a lot of blame as it was a critical situation for the team. As the leader I wanted to take the guys over the line so I was dealing with lots of emotions,” Bavuma said to The Guardian.

The Proteas crumbled from 96 for four to 99 for eight, leaving Bavuma in visible agony and blaming himself, before a nervy 51-run partnership between Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen rescued them to seal a hard-fought victory. South Africa went on to clinch the second Test at Newlands, sealing the series and securing their place in the World Test Championship final.

Notably, Bavuma has enjoyed a golden run with the bat as he has led this South African campaign from the front, averaging 57.78, scoring seven fifties and three centuries. He has been an integral part of the South African Test side but his batting prowess as captain has earned him a new respect.