'Lot of pride attached to that': Temba Bavuma shares thoughts on SA's incredible record over India

South Africa's Test captain, Temba Bavuma, will have the onus of carrying forward the unbeaten run against India, but the SA skipper is wary of the challenge that is coming his team's way. Since 1992, India has toured South Africa a number of times, but the Asian superpower's account still shows nil whenever the search takes place about India's Test series win in South Africa. The coming series will bring another opportunity for Team India, and as per many experts, it is the best chance to win the series in SA.

3 things you need to know

• India vs South Africa 1st Test is scheduled to begin from December 26, 2023
• It will be a two-match series
• Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah have joined the squad ahead of the 1st Test

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India's dry run in South Africa

In 23 games played in South Africa, India has only scored 4 victories while suffering 12 losses to the Proteas. Not surprisingly, given that the all-conquering Indian team had won a series in Australia and taken a 2-1 lead in an incomplete series in England, South Africa was dubbed the "final frontier" when they visited the Rainbow Nation in 2022. The team captained by Virat Kohli won the first Test in Centurion but lost the next two in Johannesburg and Cape Town, forcing the star batsman to resign from the position.

India have played eight series in South Africa so far, yet in none of those eight series have they been able to win more than one Test match. India has had some noteworthy victories, one being its first-ever victory in South Africa in Johannesburg in 2006, when Rahul Dravid was the captain. But the team hasn't been able to string together victories in their series in a location that is regarded as difficult for visitors, particularly those from the subcontinent.

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Temba Bavuma takes pride in the record

South African skipper, Temba Bavuma, who is aware of this invincible record against India, has taken pride in it but at the same time admitted the challenge that the current India side will bring in the upcoming series.

"There's a lot of pride attached to that - that we've been able to keep that record intact as a South African team... all of us as players also feel that," Temba Bavuma said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
"But we understand playing against India comes with certain challenges and it's those types of challenges we would like to focus on. Playing against India comes with a lot more eyes and a lot more scrutiny in terms of everything we do.