'He is not a character that is going to...' - Former South Africa player indirectly compares Temba Bavuma to Virat Kohli

South Africa's former player Graeme Smith praised captain Temba Bavuma for his captaincy skills in red-ball cricket. Under Bavuma, the Proteas have won seven consecutive games and qualified for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 finals for the first time. The team performed well, and Bavuma scored some brilliant knocks, including centuries. 

The former player compared the captain's attitude towards the game and players, and compared him to Virat Kohli, who is short-tempered on the field. Smith said that Bavuma can handle any situation really well because he doesn't shout on people's faces. 

"It should mean a lot to everybody and Temba. He has found himself under a lot of pressure in the last 2-3 years. He has averaged over 50 with the bat over the last year. He has led from the front, he calmly goes about his work. He is not a character that is going to be on people's faces and shouting and going mad. He's a quiet man that goes about his work in a very solid way, and he has led the team to seven victories in a row. And that's brilliant. He's in the World Test Championship final and we'll be there behind him, supporting him," said Smith during the presser.

SA20 carries high hopes: Graeme Smith

The SA20 league has reached its third season and Smith wants it to become famous in the upcoming years. This year, the first game will be between the defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape and MI Cape Town at St George's Oval in Gqeberha. The tournament is held between six teams every year. 

"In its third season, SA20 carries high hopes, with many believing internally that the league could eventually rival the Indian Premier League. The buzz is strong, and the reasons are compelling. It boasts star-studded lineups and features teams that are sister franchises of IPL sides," added Smith.