Temba Bavuma Opens Up On ‘Bauna’ Remark
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has revealed that Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant personally apologised to him for calling him “Bauna” during the Kolkata Test against India in November. The Hindi word “Bauna”, meaning dwarf or short-heighted person, was picked up on the stump mic when the Indian players were discussing an LBW review on Day 1.
The clip quickly went viral on social media, sparking a debate on sledging, on-field banter and respect between teams in high-pressure Test cricket. Bavuma has now broken his silence in his column, giving his side of the story and how he processed the incident.
Bumrah, Pant Came And Said Sorry
In his column, Bavuma wrote that two senior Indian players, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah, came to him at the end of the day’s play to apologise. He admitted he initially did not even know what they were apologising for and later checked with South Africa’s media manager to understand the full context.
Bavuma stressed that while apologies were made, words spoken on the field are not easily forgotten. He said that such episodes can become inner motivation for a player but insisted that he is not holding a grudge against the Indian cricketers.
‘You Don’t Forget What Is Said’
Reflecting on the incident, Bavuma underlined the thin line between competitive sledging and personal comments. He said what happens on the field often stays there, but players remember what is said and can use it as fuel to perform better.
The timing of his revelation is significant, coming soon after South Africa’s stunning 2-0 Test series win in India, their first since 2000. In that context, Bavuma’s mental resilience and leadership under fire, including dealing with such remarks, becomes an important part of the broader series narrative.
Conrad’s ‘Grovel’ Comment And Whitewash Context
The series also saw South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad land in controversy for saying he wanted India to “grovel” by making them spend long hours on the field during the Guwahati Test. He later admitted he could have chosen a better word, even as his team went on to complete a dominant 408-run win in the second Test.
South Africa won the Kolkata Test by 30 runs and followed it up with the record margin in Guwahati to seal a 2-0 whitewash, their first Test series win in India in 25 years. The result also extended Bavuma’s unbeaten run as Test captain, with 11 wins in 12 matches and a World Test Championship title already to his name.
Why The ‘Bauna’ Episode Matters Now
In today’s social media-driven cricket culture, stump-mic chatter and sledging are instantly amplified, forcing teams to balance aggression with responsibility. The Temba Bavuma Bauna remark episode shows how quickly on-field comments can turn into public controversies and how important it is for players to own up and correct themselves.
For Bavuma, the incident has become part of a larger story of mental strength, dignity and leadership during a landmark tour where South Africa rewrote history in Indian conditions. For fans, it is a reminder that while sledging may be part of the game, respect and timely apologies still matter in modern cricket.
