Bavuma believes this group, unbeaten in full-strength Test series since coach Shukri Conrad took charge in 2023, has the maturity and belief to mount a serious challenge and win their only second series in India after 25 years.
South Africa stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder felt he had no right to dislodge West Indies great Brian Lara from the summit of highest Test innings scores.
Australia will have to dust off the cobwebs but are still fancied to successfully defend their World Test Championship crown against equally ring-rusty South Africa in the final at Lord's.
South Africa have eight wickets in hand and are now overwhelming favourites to finish off the job, and take the title away from champions Australia, who had set them a daunting fourth innings target of 282 in the final on Friday.
WTC Final-bound SA players likely to miss IPL playoffs
South Africa have recalled all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy to their 15-player squad for next month's two-Test tour of Bangladesh as one of three frontline spin options.
South Africa are confident they can chase down a spot in next year's World Test Championship final, even if they must win four of their remaining five Tests in the current two-year cycle
Temba Bavuma hopes South Africa's historic ICC World Test Championship Final victory will help his country 'rejoice and come together' as he revealed a desire to emulate the Springboks' all-conquering rugby team.
Ashwell Prince, South Africa's batting coach, labelled Aiden Markram as the "man for the big occasion" after the opener steered the Proteas towards what could be a famous run-chase in the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia on Friday.
South Africa's two-test series success over Sri Lanka on Monday catapulted them to first place in the World Test Championship and put them firmly on course for next year's final in what would have been unthinkable less than a year ago.
Cricket South Africa's Director of Cricket Enoch Nkwe confirmed Klaasen was still part of their white ball plans.
South Africa are hopeful that both fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi will be available for selection in the first Test against India that gets underway in Pretoria on Tuesday, coach Shukri Conrad has confirmed.
For the world, it is another victory of a cricket team, but for all those Black South Africans, who suffered during apartheid, it come as a sweet redemption.
World No 1 India may feel they have never had a better chance of winning their first ever Test series in South Africa.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has been criticised for failing to meet "transformational targets" with only one black African in Kagiso Rabada part of the T20 World Cup squad.
South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad slammed the Newlands pitch as 'not great'.
South Africa named uncapped Neil Brand as their captain for a two-match Test tour of New Zealand next month where the majority of their team will be missing, competing instead in the domestic Twenty20 league.
A team like India, which doesn't have players competing round the year in T20 leagues across the globe, doesn't need two separate coaches for the limited overs and Test format, feels former England spinner Graeme Swann.
Bavuma has replaced Dean Elgar as skipper in the longest format, though the latter remains part of a much-changed squad.
AB de Villiers feels the criticism that has come South Africa's way is unwarranted and they have rather done well to reach the WTC final despite experiencing "so many changes" in the last three to five years.
'I don't know what the maths looks like but we're playing good cricket and we want it to continue.'
Injury to Temba Bavuma also thrust Elgar back into the captain's role that was taken away from him last February.
Vincent Barnes has been roped in as high performance manager and bowling lead coach' while former assistant coach Malibongwe Maketa was appointed as the South Africa A and National Academy lead coach.
South Africa have rested batter Temba Bavuma for their home white-ball series against India this month after a poor Cricket World Cup, but he will captain the team in the two-Test series which starts on Dec. 26.
'I think any captain who wants to lead from the front, they want to lead through performance as well, and that's what Temba's done exceptionally well.'
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 1st Test played between South Africa and West Indies at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Tuesday.
South African pacer Nandre Burger said on Tuesday that the experience of playing against India in the recently-concluded all-format home series was incredible and he learnt a lot during the course of it.
The cause of outrage is the presence of just one black player in the South Africa squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
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