South Africa crushed India by 408 runs in the second test in Guwahati, the largest ever loss by runs for the hosts in their history, to claim the series 2-0 following a 30-run victory in the first test in Kolkata.
Asked whether this achievement is bigger than winning the World Test Championship final against Australia in June, Bavuma admits it is close.
“It is definitely up there,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “Coming to India is always a tough prospect. What makes it sweeter is that we have been on the other side of the result in past tours. It is an incredible achievement for this group of players.”
Simon Harmer took 6-37 in India second innings as they were bowled out for 140, with figures of 9-101 in the match.
“I have been very impressed with the spinners but I was always very confident in their ability,” Bavuma says. “Simon has come in and bolstered the quality in that department. As a team over the years we have relied on Keshav Maharaj, but Simon came in and did what he had to do.
“Our bowling has always been a strength of ours, and the way the guys stepped up without our main bowler Kagiso (Rabada) … we have really grown into a team that can be successful in all conditions.”
Bavuma will go down as a rare South African captain to claim a series win in India, and also contributed with the bat, especially in the first test. He now has 11 test wins and a draw in 12 as skipper of the side.
“I am a lot more assured of myself as a person, and as a captain more clear on what I want to do out there,” he said. “We have a lot of leaders in the team and it is understanding how certain guys provide value within the team and allowing them to flourish.
“Over the last few years I have been able to separate the captaincy from my primary skill (batting) in the team. I always try to ensure that from a batting point of view I am contributing as much as I can to the team.”
Bavuma says that while bowling has always been a strength of the side, he is pleased by how the batters are contribution more to victories.
“The way that we have gone about winning games, we don’t have guys to get the big hundreds, but we have five or six guys who can contribute to get us to a formidable score.
“It is goods times within the team, we will enjoy the moment and afterwards have a reflection and look for ways to get better.”
South Africa stay in India for a three-match One Day International series that starts on Sunday, before they play five Twenty20 Internationals.