South Africa created history by defeating India 2–0 in the recently concluded Test series, producing dominant performances in Kolkata and Guwahati. With this clean sweep, the Proteas became only the third visiting team ever to whitewash India in a home Test series, a feat that instantly elevated the stature of captain Temba Bavuma.

The series win triggered massive praise across the cricketing world, but one of the most significant endorsements came from South African legend AB de Villiers. Speaking on his YouTube channel, De Villiers admitted he was initially unsure when Bavuma was appointed Test captain during a turbulent phase in South African cricket. However, he now believes Bavuma has exceeded every expectation.

De Villiers reflected on Bavuma’s leadership journey, recalling the period when critics questioned whether his soft-spoken manner and smaller physical frame would hold up in high-pressure situations. “Maybe it comes back to that old phrase, ‘You can’t judge a book by its cover’,” he said. Drawing a contrast with Graeme Smith’s imposing aura, De Villiers noted that Bavuma has carved out his own brand of leadership through composure, clarity, and tactical maturity.

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De Villiers says Bavuma’s calm leadership mirrors MS Dhoni’s iconic captaincy style

What stood out even more was De Villiers comparing Bavuma to the legendary MS Dhoni, a captain revered worldwide for his calm temperament. “Temba is very, very small. He’s a soft-spoken guy and hardly ever raises his voice,” De Villiers said. “It’s similar for MS Dhoni. He hardly ever spoke loudly, but when he did, people listened. Different captaincy styles can still be very successful.”

Bavuma’s record certainly backs the praise. He has won 11 of the 12 Tests he has captained and remains unbeaten in the role. Earlier this year, he also guided South Africa to their first-ever ICC title, lifting the World Test Championship trophy after defeating Australia at Lord’s.

His composed batting effort in the first Test in India, played under immense pressure on a tricky pitch, further strengthened his growing legacy. With a historic series win and an ICC title already under his belt, Bavuma’s rise as a transformative Test leader shows no signs of slowing down.