South Africa emerged victorious in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 by defeating Australia at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. The Proteas, led by Temba Bavuma, lifted an ICC trophy after a long wait of 27 years, their first since the 1998 Wills International Cup (later renamed as the Champions Trophy).
Bavuma led from the front, scoring 36 and 66 in the two innings against the defending champions Australia. His unbeaten record as Test captain has become a talking point and there are speculations that Bavuma might enter the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the 2026 mini-auction. If he does, several franchises would be keen to pick him not just as a player, but as a potential captain.
Here, let us take a look at three IPL teams that could consider Bavuma as their captain for the 2026 season.
3 IPL teams that could appoint Temba Bavuma as captain in 2026
1. Rajasthan Royals
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) were led by Sanju Samson in select matches during IPL 2025. But, recurring injuries disrupted his participation in the league. As a result, Riyan Parag stepped in as captain for the remaining fixtures but struggled to deliver significant success, with the team finishing ninth on the points table.
RR could be in search of a fit leader for the upcoming IPL 2026 season. Bavuma could be the ideal fit for the RR. With his proven leadership on the international stage, Bavuma can blend into the Men in Pink and bring the needed direction to the franchise.
2. Delhi Capitals
The Delhi Capitals (DC) started IPL 2025 on a promising note but failed in the latter half of the tournament, ultimately missing out on a playoff spot. The team saw a shuffle in leadership, with Axar Patel leading for most of the season and Faf du Plessis stepping in for the final matches due to injuries. Axar showed promise and handled responsibilities well but the captaincy never felt like a permanent solution.
Axar still needs more experience to develop as a full-time leader. DC might look for a seasoned captain to stabilise their campaign in IPL 2026 and Bavuma could be the perfect fit. His presence could give the leadership consistency for the franchise.
3. Lucknow Super Giants
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were led by Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025, but his impact as captain was limited. Although he delivered a memorable century against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), his performances and leadership overall were not as per the expectations.
Heading into IPL 2026, LSG could consider bringing in a more experienced player to guide the team, allowing Pant to focus on his batting without the burden of captaincy. Bavuma fits that requirement perfectly given his proven leadership record.
‘If you are not going to trust a bowler, why have you played him?’ – Dinesh Karthik questions inclusion of Shardul Thakur
Cricketers reimagined as Panchayat series characters: Who would get which role?
SL vs BAN 2025: Najmul Hossain Shanto plays it safe amid ambiguities over Test captaincy
What if Sachin Tendulkar had been a wicketkeeper, How could it have changed MS Dhoni’s career?
