Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday congratulated Proteas Men captain Temba Bavuma on being named among the TIME100 Most Influential Sports People of 2026 by global publication, TIME Magazine.
Bavuma’s recognition adds to a growing list of milestones in a career that has transcended cricket, cementing his place as one of South Africa’s most influential and successful sporting figures.
Since making his international debut in 2014, Bavuma has become one of the most respected figures in world cricket.
As captain, Bavuma has led the Proteas into a new era of excellence. Under his leadership, South Africa have enjoyed notable success in test cricket, where he boasts one of the strongest captaincy records in the modern game, winning 11 of his first 12 tests as captain.
A Prestigious Honour. 🏅#TheProteas captain, Temba Bavuma, has been named in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports. 👏
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 17, 2026
Recognised for his inspirational leadership and for guiding South Africa to the ICC World Test Championship title in June 2025. A fitting tribute to a… pic.twitter.com/QSEKFzUoDP
The Time100 accolade coincides with the first anniversary of arguably one of his defining leadership achievements when he captained South Africa to a historic ICC World Test Championship title victory at Lord’s Cricket Ground in June 2025, securing the nation’s first major ICC trophy in over two decades.
Bavuma also continues to rank among the world’s elite batters, earning a place inside the ICC Top 10 test batting rankings in 2026. His sheer talent , coupled with quiet yet poised leadership remains undeniable.
CSA Chief Executive Officer, Pholetsi Moseki, congratulated Bavuma on the global recognition:
“On behalf of Cricket South Africa and the entire cricketing fraternity, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Temba on this incredible and well-deserved recognition.
“Being named among the TIME100 Most Influential People is a powerful acknowledgement of his impact globally, both on and off the field as he continues to inspire young cricketers and South Africans from all walks of life.
“Temba’s journey is one of perseverance and purpose, and we are immensely proud to see him receive acclaimed recognition for the influence he continues to have in shaping the future of the game and society,” said Moseki.