Bumrah and Pant Apologised – SA’s Bavuma Speaks on ‘Bauna’ Incident

South Africa Test batter Temba Bavuma ignited a successful campaign against India during the 2025 multi-format tour. His 55-run knock at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata literally opened the floodgates of runs-getting and smart bowling to hand India a shock home defeat.

However, the Proteas Test success was not as major of a highlight compared to the ‘Bauna’ incident during this encounter.

Bavuma Confirms He Was Unaware of Slur Directed at Him Until after Kolkata Test

Some Team India cricketers appeared to make disparaging remarks about Bavuma during the first Test:

“I know from my side there was an incident where they said something in their language about me. At the end of the day two senior players, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah, came and apologised,” the cricketer wrote in his sports column. Bavuma said he had no idea that Indian cricketers described him using an abusive word during their encounter at the Eden Gardens:

“When the apology was made, I was in the dark about what it was about, I hadn’t heard it at the time and I needed to check in with our media manager about it,” he said.

Bavuma appeared to shrug off any hard feelings after learning of these comments while claiming such words serve as motivation:  

What happens on the field, stays on the field but you don’t forget what is said. You use it as fuel and motivation, but there are no grudges per se,” the SA Test captain added.

What is Bauna?

Bauna is an offensive word often used to describe short people or persons dealing with dwarfism. It is a word that has wide perception as a slur in professional circles and many frown upon its use at the highest level of long-format cricket.

When Did the Incident Occur?

The ‘Bauna’ incident occurred during Day 1 of the Test series on November 14, 2025. Jasprit Bumrah thought he had Temba at LBW and discussed with India’s wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant regarding a DRS appeal turned down.

One of the stump mics captured their voices throughout this exchange. Playbacks appeared to reveal Bumrah calling Bavuma ‘Bauna’ during this discussion.

Bavuma Recalls South Africa’s Test Victory vs India

South Africa has been a tough nut to crack in recent Test series against several top sides. Their recent WTC 2025 triumph further proves South Africa’s ascent in long-format cricket. Bavuma relishes the victory secured vs India and mirrors it to triumphs during the Hansie Cronje era:

“Our Test series victory against India was incredible. The craziest stat was that the last time we had won a Test series there was in the late Hansie Cronje’s days as captain, in 2000. The fact that we did it two and a half decades later speaks to the magnitude of our performance and overall achievement. It’s another feather in our cap as a side, and we’re growing very well as a Test team,” the skipper said.

How Did Bavuma React Upon Hearing the Comments Post-Match?

Temba said the first reaction to comments made by some Team India players was not pleasant; however, he has put that aside after SA coach Shukri Conrad offered full support:

“The first time I heard about it, it had that unsavoury taste to it, but I think it just reminded me how tough and competitive the Test series was and what it meant to certain individuals within the group. Shukri spoke after the ODI series and put that issue to bed. In hindsight, he said he could have chosen a better word and I agree with him,” the cricketer added.

Bavuma Describes How South Africa Approached 2025 Test Tour of India

The skipper revealed South Africa knew what was at stake before their 2025 encounter vs India. He reveals the visitors ignored previous failures in India and decided to focus on securing positive results from both matches in Kolkata and Guwahati:

“I guess we came into the 2025 series knowing how tough it can be. You don’t want to admit it as such but there are scars that still kind of live there. You just hope that you don’t reopen those wounds or relive those moments. There was that from a mental point of view, but also, with past experience, you know how tough it’s going to be,” Bavuma said.

India vs South Africa 2025 Test Results

Bavuma led his side to a crushing whitewash against India in a series that displayed their dominance in long-format cricket. Check out the full results after both Tests below: