South Africa beat Bangladesh convincingly in the two-match Test series. However, regular captain Temba Bavuma was forced to sit out both Tests due to injury. In an exclusive interview with The commercial standardBavuma shared an update on his recovery progress and what the future holds for his career.

You’re obviously recovering from an injury, but leading the team to a series win right now has to feel big, especially with a team that’s still coming together. How was this journey for you and your teammates?

Yes, absolutely. It’s been an incredible journey and winning this series means a lot to us. Our team put in a lot of work and coming together to achieve this victory boosted everyone’s confidence. As a team building its identity, this series has been a great experience. The performances we achieved throughout the matches showed us what we are capable of, even if there is still a lot of room for improvement. Each match adds to our experience and gives us the belief that we are on the right track. It’s been a privilege to be part of something that feels so special.

It is clear that you have had a huge impact on South African cricket, particularly young talent from South Africa’s black communities. Many young people are watching you lead and succeed. What impact do you think this has had in your country?

I think for me it has been amazing to be able to represent South Africa and hopefully inspire the next generation. When I was growing up, I had people in my community, my family, and many role models who inspired me to pursue this path. Watching those who represent South Africa on the international stage has deeply motivated me, and it is this motivation that I hope to pass on to the younger generation. I want them to see that no matter what challenges or adversities they face, success is possible. Being able to take on the responsibility of captain is something I don’t take for granted, and I hope it shows young people, especially from similar backgrounds, that they too can achieve things they previously thought out of reach.

You have been part of the team since 2015, and nine years later, you are still here to contribute to the team’s success. What changes have you seen in terms of mentality and approach during this period?

There has been a lot of growth over these years. At the time, the team was still developing its own style and approach, but now we have come together and created a team culture with a more cohesive mentality. We have learned to adapt to different cricket environments and meet the challenges head on. It’s great to see how much our preparation has changed – we are now more focused on understanding the conditions we will face and perfecting our mental game accordingly. There is now a feeling of unity and everyone knows their role on the team. It all contributes to our progress as a team, and it’s amazing to see where we’ve come from.

Both tests in this series were won in just three days. Did you expect a stronger challenge from the opposition, or were you a little surprised by the results?

We are always ready for a big challenge and we mainly focus on our own preparation and approach. We arrived about a week earlier than usual, which gave us a little more time to get settled in. We prepared with a clear mindset, knowing we had to adapt to the conditions. We expected Bangladesh to make things difficult at home. But we feel that they are going through a period of transition, especially with a new captain and a young team. We knew it would be a difficult task for them. We have a lot of respect for them as they develop their team and go through a growth phase themselves.

With the ICC Test Championship still at stake, this series victory assumes great significance. You have four Test matches remaining, including two against Australia. Are you confident of reaching the final?

We proceed step by step. Confidence is high after this series, and winning always keeps the momentum going. But our approach is to focus on each series and each match individually, putting all our effort into each one. If we can maintain the performances of the last few weeks, it will give us a solid chance of reaching the final. But for now, we’ll just enjoy this victory and celebrate what we’ve accomplished. We will focus on the next series when the time comes, knowing that we must do our best every day to reach that last place.

Before a match, how do you prepare? Is there any particular music you listen to, or do you have any superstitions or rituals?

I wouldn’t call myself superstitious, but I have a few routines that I like to stick to. Music is always part of my preparation: I just listen to what’s popular or upbeat at the moment. It helps me get in the zone. In the days leading up to a match, I spend a lot of time in front of the net, focusing on my technical skills and simulating the challenges I might face on the field. But the main thing for me is to stay fresh and keep my mindset positive and ready.

Now that you’ve spent a little more time in Bangladesh, have you had a chance to explore or sample the local cuisine?

We went out to eat several times, but unfortunately didn’t have much time to explore. But the people here are incredibly friendly, which makes the experience enjoyable. Hopefully next time, if we have more time, we will be able to see a little more of the country and taste more of the local cuisine. The little we experienced was wonderful.

Looking to the future, what lies ahead? How long do you plan to continue playing and what are your career goals for the future?

(Laughs) Well, I’m not really a spring chicken anymore, but the love for the game is definitely still there. I would love to continue playing for a few more years, as long as my body allows it and I can stay injury-free. Staying fit is a priority for me at the moment, and as long as I feel physically capable I will continue. Captaining the team and scoring that first century in front of the home crowd was one of the highlights of my career, and I want to continue to build on that legacy.