Temba Bavuma

Biography

Temba Bavuma is a South African international cricketer who currently captains the South African national team in Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket. He previously captained the team in Twenty20 Internationals (T20I). Born on May 17, 1990, in Langa, Western Cape, South Africa, he is a right-handed middle-order batsman.   

Bavuma made his first-class debut for Gauteng in 2008 and his franchise debut for the Lions in the 2010/11 season. He later played for the Cape Cobras and the Durban Heat in domestic competitions.   

He made his Test debut for South Africa against the West Indies on December 26, 2014. On January 5, 2016, he became the first black African cricketer to score a Test century for South Africa, achieving an unbeaten 102 against England in Cape Town. His ODI debut came against Ireland on September 25, 2016, where he scored 113 runs, becoming only the second South African to score a century on ODI debut at that time. He made his T20I debut against India on September 18, 2019.

In March 2021, Bavuma was appointed as the captain of South Africa's limited-overs side, making him the first black African player to be named the permanent captain of the team. He led South Africa at the 2021 and 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cups.   

As of May 2025, Temba Bavuma has played 63 Test matches, scoring 3606 runs with an average of 37.96, including 4 centuries and 24 half-centuries, with a highest score of 172. In 48 ODIs, he has scored 1847 runs at an average of 44.00, including 5 centuries and 7 half-centuries, with a highest score of 144. He has also played 36 T20Is, scoring 670 runs with one half-century and a highest score of 72. He bowls right-arm medium occasionally, taking one Test wicket.

Bavuma is known for his solid technique and resilient batting style in the middle order. He is a significant figure in South African cricket, having achieved several milestones as the first black African captain and Test centurion for the country.