“I haven’t seen many Indian batters also bat like that” - Former India cricketer’s huge claim on Temba Bavuma after IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Former international cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin lauded South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma for outshining the Indian counterparts with the bat in the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Proteas recorded a historic 30-run win on Sunday, November 16, their first on Indian soil in 15 years, to claim a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Temba Bavuma stood tall in the second innings to score an unbeaten 55 runs off 136 deliveries to help South Africa overcome a deficit, and stretch the lead to 123, which proved to be decisive in the end. The right-handed batter frustrated the Indian bowlers as he stitched crucial runs while batting with the tail-enders.

R Ashwin observed how Temba Bavuma was more technically sound and assured on a tricky wicket as a visiting batter, while the hosts largely suffered across both innings with the bat.

"So, on a pitch, where you have to fear the pacers and the spinners, and run scoring options are limited, then it is very difficult. So, credit to South Africa, despite Maharaj having a very ordinary game, they came out on top. The way Temba Bavuma played in this game, I have not seen too many Indian batters also bat like that. Washington Sundar defended outstandingly, Axar Patel has a class defence, but I have not seen too many players defend like Bavuma," R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

R Ashwin slammed the new generation Indian batters to tackle spin bowling, and opined that if batters of the previous era had to combat similar conditions, they would have fared much better. He urged the team management not to entertain such pitches until the batting unit in transition is well-settled and experienced enough.

"In another game, in another era, where spin bowling was compacted very well, Amol Muzumdar, Mithun Manhas, even Sachin Tendulkar in his prime. If they had played in the same wicket against spin, the game would have gone four days. And now, in this game, in a batting lineup of two teams, where only three batters have defended the ball well, among 15-16 batters. So, if you want to play on turning pitches, your game against spin has to be very good. If it is not, then don't play on such pitches. As simple as that," Ashwin opined.

"We are not the best players of spin going around in the world at this point of time. Many Western teams are much better players of spin at this point of time. The problem is that the kind of wicket we used in Ahmedabad against the West Indies, we cannot use it against South Africa. They will get Jansen, Rabada, and Bosch, then there will be no home advantage. Instead, you can use pitches like the one that was there in Delhi. This team is not ready to play on these type of wickets," he continued.

Team India had recorded a 2-0 whitewash against the West Indies on pitches that were much different than the one used at the Eden Gardens. In the series opener at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the seamers, Mohammed Siraj, in particular, ran the show by taking seven wickets. Meanwhile, the second Test at the Arun Jaitely Stadium stretched to the fifth day.

"Should have got 124" - R Ashwin feels India should have chased the target irrespective of the conditions in IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Team India have a poor record when it comes to similar run chases in the past. Almost exactly a year ago, India fumbled while chasing a 147-run target in the third Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium, losing the match by 25 runs. Prior to that, while attempting to chase down 231 runs in the first Test against England in Hyderabad, the Men in Blue fell short by 28 runs.

R Ashwin felt that the target was attainable despite the nature of the pitch and the opposition's bowling prowess.

"If you are playing against the West Indies in Eden Gardens and Guwahati, then no problem. The matches against South Africa should have been scheduled in Ahmedabad and Delhi instead. Whatever said and done, India should have got 124, we did not have the adequate resources to counter spin in a good manner," Ashwin said.

The second Test between India and South Africa is scheduled to begin on Saturday, November 22, at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.