South Africa have refused to make a fuss over the controversial “bauna” remark directed at captain Temba Bavuma by Indian players Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant during the opening day of the first Test at Eden Gardens. Batting coach Ashwell Prince downplayed the incident, saying there would be “no discussion” about it.​

The Stump Mic Controversy

The exchange occurred on the last ball of the 13th over when South Africa were 62/2. Bumrah struck Bavuma on the thigh pad and went up with a huge appeal for leg-before, which the umpire turned down. During discussions about whether to take DRS, the stump microphone picked up Bumrah saying “bauna bhi hai,” a remark many interpreted as a reference to Bavuma’s height.​

Pant responded, “bauna hai, par yaha pe laga hai,” suggesting the ball would have missed the stumps regardless of Bavuma’s stature. Replays later confirmed Pant’s judgment—the delivery would have sailed over.​

What “Bauna” Means

The Hindi word “bauna” is commonly used for those suffering from dwarfism, though it’s also casually used to describe someone short in height. The usage sparked widespread debate online, with many criticizing the Indian players for what they perceived as body-shaming.​​

Social media erupted with discussions about whether this constituted casual body-shaming, cultural misinterpretation, or something more serious. Critics argued the remark was distasteful and insensitive, while others suggested it was simply describing Bavuma’s physical characteristics in the context of judging ball trajectory.​​

South Africa’s Response

When asked about the incident after day one’s play, Prince distanced the team from any controversy. “No, there will be no discussion. It’s the first time, obviously, it’s come to my attention. I don’t think there’ll be any issues with what’s happened out in the middle,” Prince said.​

South Africa are not lodging any complaint with match officials or the ICC. Their decision to move on suggests they either didn’t find the remark offensive or prefer to focus on cricket rather than off-field disputes.​

Bavuma’s Brief Stay

Bavuma, returning to lead South Africa’s Test side after recovering from a calf strain that forced him to miss the start of their World Test Championship defense against Pakistan, had a forgettable outing. He was dismissed for just 3 off 11 balls by Kuldeep Yadav via a leg-slip trap shortly after the controversial incident.​

Bumrah’s Brilliant Day

Despite the controversy, Bumrah’s bowling performance dominated the first day. He returned figures of 5 wickets, dismantling South Africa’s top order and proving once again why he’s considered one of the world’s finest fast bowlers.​

The pacer had already removed openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton when the incident with Bavuma occurred. His spell helped India bowl out South Africa and seize control of the match.​

The Bigger Debate

The incident has reignited discussions about player communication standards in modern cricket. With stump microphones picking up every conversation, players must be increasingly mindful of their words, knowing millions can hear them.​

Some argue that casual remarks about physical appearance—even if technically accurate for LBW height calculations—have no place in professional sport and constitute body-shaming. Others contend that cultural and linguistic context matters when interpreting such comments.​

For now, with South Africa declining to escalate the matter, the focus returns to cricket. But the debate about appropriate on-field behavior continues online, serving as another reminder of how modern technology has changed the game beyond just third umpire reviews and ball-tracking.