Bavuma’s Indian summer in November: Favourite Hindi word
A 2-0 Test series win sealed, some statesmanlike press conferences and now entering the key segment of the India tour, for ODIs, Temba Bavuma is turning heads and hearts. AB de Villiers admitted Bavuma’s success has caught his skepticism by surprise, and he proceeded to compare his soft-spoken leadership to MS Dhoni’s. Not frivolous, but Bavuma can indulge broadcasters playing along in silly QnAs, and answer the typical life&death posers like if he likes tea better or coffee, with a straight face. It’s the latter, he told Star Sports who put him through dibbly-dobblies ahead of the start of the Ranchi match. When asked if he liked butter chicken better or peri peri chicken (marinated in chilli, garlic, lemon, spices, with South African-Portuguese origins, made famous by Nando’s), he chose butter chicken. “Burger or pizza?” Sadly, he chose burgers. For the ‘when in Rome….’ staple question, Bavuma would tell Star, “Theek hai. That’s the only word I like in Hindi.” In cricketing batsmen habits, he said he followed the ‘Sock, shoe then the pads’ order …
