South Africa's Test captain, Temba Bavuma, has finally addressed the controversial incident involving Indian players Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant during the first Test of the recently concluded series. Bavuma confirmed that both senior Indian cricketers later approached him to apologise for a remark made on the field, which sparked a significant debate among fans and pundits alike.
The Incident and the Viral Clip
The episode unfolded on Day 1 of the first Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 14. The moment arose when Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah appealed for an LBW decision against Bavuma. After the on-field umpire rejected the appeal, Bumrah was heard discussing with wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant whether to take a DRS review.
A clip from the stump microphone captured their exchange and quickly went viral on social media. In the audio, Bumrah appeared to use the term "bauna," a word often considered derogatory and associated with dwarfism when commenting on a person's stature.
Bavuma's Revelation and Initial Reaction
Writing in his column for ESPNcricinfo, Bavuma disclosed that he was completely unaware of the comment during the match. He only learned about it afterwards through his team's media manager. "I know from my side there was an incident where they said something in their language about me," Bavuma wrote.
He revealed, "At the end of the day, two senior players, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah, came and apologised." The South African skipper admitted the apology initially left him puzzled because he was "in the dark about what it was about." He needed to check with the media manager to understand the context of their regret.
No Grudges, But Words as Fuel
While accepting the apology and acknowledging the intense nature of elite sport, Bavuma emphasised that words spoken in the heat of battle are not easily forgotten. "What happens on the field, stays on the field but you don't forget what is said," he noted thoughtfully.
He clarified his stance by adding, "You use it as fuel and motivation, but there are no grudges per se." Bavuma pointed out that a high-stakes series against a team like India naturally brings heightened emotions, making the contest a greater spectacle and further motivating the players involved. He stressed that mutual respect between the competitors remained intact throughout.
This revelation comes against the backdrop of a historic 2-0 Test series whitewash by South Africa over India on Indian soil, their first such achievement since the year 2000. Reflecting on the tour, Bavuma suggested that moments of controversy only served to highlight how fiercely competitive the series was and the determination his team possessed to create history.
