New Delhi, Dec 24 (NationPress) South African captain Temba Bavuma disclosed that the Indian pair of Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah expressed their regrets to him following remarks made in their native language during the inaugural Test match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Bavuma, who led South Africa to a 2-0 victory in the Test series against India, mentioned that while such comments aren't easily forgotten, he holds no animosity. A stump mic incident during the first day's play captured Bumrah and Pant calling Bavuma 'bauna' while appealing for an lbw off him in the 14th over.

This term is often used in reference to individuals with dwarfism and can be considered derogatory when directed at shorter individuals. “A series against India is bound to be intense, and when the competition heats up, it further motivates the players,” Bavuma remarked.

“As long as mutual respect between players remains, everything is fine with whatever transpires on the field. I did notice that there was an instance where they mentioned something in their language about me. Ultimately, two senior players, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah, approached me to apologize.”

“At the time of the apology, I was unaware of what was said, as I hadn't heard it myself and needed to consult our media manager about it. What occurs on the field stays there, but the words spoken are not forgotten. They serve as fuel and motivation, yet I bear no grudges,” Bavuma shared with ESPNCricinfo on Wednesday.

He further pointed out that head coach Shukri Conrad should have used a more appropriate term than 'grovel' during the second Test in Guwahati. “Shukri faced some backlash for his 'grovel' comment. I was pressured by the media to clarify those remarks,” he mentioned.

“I believed Shukri was best positioned to elucidate the situation. When I first learned of it, it had an unpleasant ring to it, yet it reminded me of the fierce competitiveness of the Test series and its significance to certain individuals in our group. Shukri addressed the matter after the ODI series and resolved it. In retrospect, he acknowledged he could have selected a better word, and I concur with that,” Bavuma added.

Before Bavuma's leadership, South Africa last secured a Test series win in India under Hansie Cronje in 2000. He elaborated on how he and Conrad meticulously strategized for months to ensure South Africa, the reigning World Test Championship titleholders, triumphed in their Test tour of India, following previous setbacks in 2015 and 2019.

“Regarding coach Shukri's ability to bring out the best in us as players, that groundwork has been laid since we began. Shuks instills confidence in the players, convincing them they can perform at their best. The underlying premise is that if we play to our potential, no one can compete with us.”

“We've always aimed to prepare for these kinds of encounters. The two of us deliberated for months on end about India. What type of team and players did we want? What strategies did we need for success? It was not a matter of arriving in India and saying, ‘Okay, how do we proceed?’

“The groundwork was established long before the Test series. Achieving this victory after two and a half decades underscores the significance of our performance and overall achievement. It's another milestone for our team, and we are progressing remarkably as a Test unit,” he concluded.