Temba Bavuma Biography: Age, Langa Roots, Proteas Captain and Test Records
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Temba Bavuma Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Temba Bavuma |
| Date of birth | 17 May 1990 |
| Age | 36 (in October 2026) |
| Place of birth | Cape Town; grew up in Langa |
| Role | Right-handed middle-order batter |
| Domestic team | Gauteng and the Lions |
| Test debut | 26 December 2014, against the West Indies |
| ODI debut | 25 September 2016, against Ireland (scored a century) |
| T20I debut | 18 September 2019, against India |
| Captaincy | ODI captain from 2021, Test captain from 2023 |
| Biggest win | 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord’s |
| Highest Test score | 179 against Australia, Gqeberha, October 2026 |
Early Life in Langa
Bavuma spent his first years in Langa, a Cape Town township with a long cricket tradition, and played for Langa Cricket Club as a young boy. In a 2025 interview, his father Vuyo said the family then moved him to better-resourced schools.
He went to South African College Junior School (SACS) in Newlands, Cape Town. The family later moved to Johannesburg, where he finished school at St David’s Marist Inanda in Sandton. He made his first-class debut for Gauteng at the age of 18.
How His International Career Started
Bavuma played for South Africa A and then got his Test cap on 26 December 2014 against the West Indies.
His breakthrough came at Newlands in January 2016. He scored 102 not out against England, his first Test century. It made him the first black African to score a Test hundred for South Africa.
He then began his one-day career in style. On 25 September 2016 he scored 113 on his ODI debut against Ireland in Benoni.
Bavuma as Proteas Captain
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Named ODI captain, the first black African to lead South Africa |
| 2023 | Led South Africa to the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup in India |
| 2023 | Became Test captain after Dean Elgar retired |
| June 2025 | Won the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s |
| November 2025 | Won a Test series in India 2-0, South Africa’s first series win there in 25 years |
| October 2026 | First Test defeat as captain, then 179 to level the home series against Australia |
The 2025 World Test Championship final
South Africa beat Australia by five wickets at Lord’s, London, from 11 to 14 June 2025. Chasing 282, the Proteas got home on the fourth day. Aiden Markram scored 136 and was player of the match, and Bavuma scored 36 and 66 in the match. It was South Africa’s first ICC title since the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy.
The 2-0 series win in India
In November 2025 South Africa won the first Test in Kolkata by 30 runs. On 26 November 2025 they won the second Test in Guwahati by 408 runs, India’s biggest home Test defeat by runs. Simon Harmer was player of the series with 17 wickets.
An unbeaten start
Bavuma won 11 and drew 1 of his first 12 Tests as captain. That run ended in Durban on 13 October 2026, when Australia won the first Test of the 2026 series by 214 runs.
The 179 Against Australia in Gqeberha
In the second Test at St George’s Park, Gqeberha, South Africa slipped to 97 for 5 in their first innings, and Bavuma led the recovery. He made 179 from 334 balls, with 18 fours and one six, before South Africa declared on 425 for 9. The ICC reported it as his highest Test score, beating his 172 against the West Indies in 2023.
Marco Jansen (85) and Simon Harmer (82) also made important runs. South Africa then bowled Australia out twice and won by an innings and 31 runs on 22 October 2026. The series is level at 1-1 before the third Test at Newlands, Cape Town, from 27 to 31 October 2026. See every date in our Proteas home schedule.
Test Centuries
| Score | Against | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102 not out | England | Newlands, Cape Town | 2016 |
| 172 | West Indies | Wanderers, Johannesburg | 2023 |
| 113 | Sri Lanka | Kingsmead, Durban | 2024 |
| 106 | Pakistan | Newlands, Cape Town | 2025 |
| 179 | Australia | St George’s Park, Gqeberha | 2026 |
Playing Style
Bavuma is a small, compact batter. After his 179 he said he tries to play the ball close to his body and keeps his movements small because he is not a big man, and he named Sachin Tendulkar as a batter whose technique he tries to copy. He is known for long, patient innings when his team is in trouble.
Temba Bavuma on Instagram
View this post by @icc on Instagram
Temba Bavuma Questions
How old is Temba Bavuma?
He was born on 17 May 1990, so he is 36 in October 2026.
Where is Temba Bavuma from?
He was born in Cape Town and grew up in Langa, a township in the city. He later finished school in Johannesburg and plays domestic cricket for Gauteng and the Lions.
Is Temba Bavuma the first black captain of the Proteas?
He is the first black African to captain South Africa. He became ODI captain in 2021 and Test captain in 2023.
What is Temba Bavuma’s highest Test score?
179, against Australia at St George’s Park, Gqeberha, in October 2026. His previous best was 172 against the West Indies in 2023.
Did Temba Bavuma win the World Test Championship?
Yes. He captained South Africa to a five-wicket win over Australia in the final at Lord’s in June 2025.
When does Temba Bavuma play next?
South Africa play Australia in the deciding third Test at Newlands, Cape Town, from 27 to 31 October 2026, then host Bangladesh from 15 November 2026.
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