Temba Bavuma says he couldn’t look at Keshav Maharaj’s foot after the Proteas spinner ruptured an Achilles tendon at the Wanderers last Sunday.

Maharaj suffered the freak injury when attempting to celebrate the leg-before wicket of West Indian Kyle Mayers, which was upheld upon review.

Maharaj will go under the knife on Friday and could miss the ODI World Cup in India in October and November.

Bavuma said the Proteas had mixed feelings when celebrating their Test series win at the Wanderers.

“That was quite tough and, in seeing Keshav sitting in his spot with the moon boot and crutches, we were trying to celebrate the moment of winning the match and the series, but also knowing that one of our main players will be out for quite a while.

“It was tough for us emotionally, but Kesh is a strong character and will bounce back better than what the surgery diagnosis will be.

“When it happened on the field, I was probably the closest person to Keshav and I honestly don’t know what happened.

“I saw him try to celebrate and he fell, but I didn’t think too much of it to be honest, but when one of the players tried to hold his foot, it was the way that it was.

“I stepped away because I don’t like to be close to those kinds of things, but it’s a bit of a tough one with Kesh, to be fair.”

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While Maharaj’s recovery period has yet to be determined, Bavuma fears the worst as far as the World Cup is concerned.

“We’re not sure when he will be back, but I think he also understands that life goes on and the decision-makers within the team will know whom they’ll need to consider,” Bavuma said.

“Kesh would have been a big player for us going into the 50-over World Cup, but that opens up an opportunity for someone else.

“What’s happened to Kesh is quite sad, though.”