Temba Bavuma opened up about the influence of his childhood idol, Sachin Tendulkar, after tremendous century in the 2nd Test.

Bavuma ended up scoring 179 runs off 334 balls with the help of 18 fours and a six.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma delivered a remarkable performance under pressure in the second Test against Australia, producing a commanding century to strengthen his team’s position in the three-match series. Facing a formidable Australian pace attack at St George’s Park, the right-handed batter stood firm when South Africa were struggling and turned a difficult situation into a promising first-innings effort. After his outstanding knock of 179, Bavuma opened up about the influence of his childhood idol, Sachin Tendulkar, on his batting technique and explained why the legendary Indian batter remains an inspiration in shaping his game.

Temba Bavuma rescues South Africa with incredible 179

Bavuma played a crucial role in South Africa’s recovery after the hosts suffered an early batting collapse in the second Test. The top three contributed only 17 runs, leaving the captain with the responsibility of stabilising the innings against Australia’s challenging bowling attack.

Rather than allowing the pressure to dictate his approach, Bavuma concentrated on building his innings patiently. He faced 334 deliveries to score 179, demonstrating the concentration and determination required to produce a substantial contribution in Test cricket.

His innings proved particularly valuable because South Africa needed someone to bat deep and prevent Australia from taking complete control of the contest. Bavuma not only steadied the innings but also converted his start into a potentially match-defining contribution.

The South African captain also received valuable support from his teammates later in the innings. Marco Jansen scored 85, while Simon Harmer contributed 82, helping the hosts strengthen their position after the early setbacks. South Africa eventually declared their first innings at 425/9 , with Bavuma’s century serving as the foundation of their recovery.

Bavuma reveals Sachin Tendulkar’s influence behind his magnificent ton

Following the third day’s play, Bavuma was asked about the technical aspects of his batting and the lessons he had drawn from Tendulkar over the years. The South African skipper acknowledged that he has tried to model elements of his technique on the former India batter, whom he has admired throughout his career.

“Yeah, I mean, I try to emulate my technique to his (Sachin Tendulkar),” said Bavuma after the end of third day’s play.

However, Bavuma also explained that his physical attributes require him to approach batting differently. Unlike taller batters who can take longer strides towards the ball, Bavuma prefers to focus on efficient movement and maintaining control at the crease. He believes playing the ball close to his body is an important part of his method.

“I mean, I’m obviously not a big guy. I’m not really going to get any big strides in. I try to be efficient in terms of my movement. Sometimes it gets me into trouble. But I think for me, that’s generally what works. I try to play the ball as close to my body as possible. Yeah, kind of hope that that’s going to work,” Bavuma added.

Bavuma opens up on his special knock

Bavuma considered his 179 one of his better performances in South African Test cricket, particularly given the circumstances in which he came to the crease. The captain explained that he had often found himself entering the batting order early and attempting to survive long enough to reach 50 or 60 runs. On this occasion, however, he managed to extend his innings considerably and make his start count.

“Yeah, definitely one of my better ones. I think looking at the situation of the game, and I think personally as well, I found myself a lot in that type of situation, coming in early, trying to manage myself to kind of scramble through to a 50 or 60, but I think what was nice was my ability just to take it even further and make it count,” Bavuma said, highlighting the importance of the match situation alongside his personal achievement.