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 , 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 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.
