New Delhi: Aiden Markram’s calm and composed century guided South Africa to a five-wicket victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s Saturday—finally breaking the Proteas’ long curse and bringing home a major ICC trophy after decades of near-misses and heartbreak.
South Africa, set 282 to win, finished at 282-5 before lunch on the fourth day, with opening batsman Markram falling for 136 after taking South Africa to within six runs of the title.
The Proteas batter scored the century off 207 balls, that included 14 fours, with former England player Kevin Pietersen calling it one of the best innings by a South African batter in Tests.
“Probably the best innings any South African batter has ever played in Test match cricket. It might not go down as the most attacking or entertaining if you look back at South Africa’s Test history—but when you factor in the expectation, the stage, and the pressure after failing in the first innings, it was extraordinary,” Pietersen said on JioHotstar.
Markram had resumed Day 4 on 102 and was out for 136 when the team was just six runs short of victory. Australia didn’t celebrate his wicket. Instead, players congratulated Markram on his match-winning knock on a pitch where other batters (from both sides) struggled.
Indian Test vice captain Rishabh Pant, who shared the dressing room with Markram in IPL 2025 season, lauded his knock under pressure. “Well played, Aiden brother. I am so happy for you—what a great knock under pressure,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Well played, Aiden brother . I am so happy for you – what a great knock under pressure. You have made us all proud and congratulations to South Africa on lifting the WTC mace.👏🏆 pic.twitter.com/YNqaj4gFis
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) June 14, 2025
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan also called Markram’s century a “special innings”.
“This is a huge moment for S.A Cricket… 2025 is certainly the year of the underdog… maybe that will continue for the Ashes,” Vaughan posted on ‘X’.
What a special innings by Aidan Markram .. At the most important time against a World class attack he has produced one of the finest tons in a final .. This is a huge moment for a S.A Cricket .. 2025 is certainly the year of the under dog .. maybe that will continue for the Ashes
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 13, 2025
Also Read: WTC final win came on a sunny day for Rainbow Nation. It’s a new chapter for South Africa cricket
Debut, captaincy pressure and more
Under-19 victory; top scorer of the tournament; player of the tournament. Markram’s rise was meteoric. In 2014, he captained South Africa’s Under-19 side to a historic ICC U-19 World Cup victory in the UAE. And South Africa found its next great hope after the likes of Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn, AB de Villiers, and Faf du Plessis.
But greatness in South African cricket has often been a poisoned chalice. For every breakthrough star, there’s been a tale of unfulfilled promises. Markram was about to find out how high the peaks could be—and how deep the falls.
He made his Test debut in September 2017 against Bangladesh. And, with some fireworks. His driving was classical, his back-foot play crisp. Though he narrowly missed a debut century, falling for 97, he quickly made amends with a hundred in his second Test.
He then followed it with two centuries—143 off 218 and 152 off 216—against Australia in March 2018.
In early 2018, just months after his Test debut, a 23-year-old Markram was named captain of the national ODI team. He became the second-youngest player to captain South Africa in ODIs after Graeme Smith. It was a bold call—and one that perhaps came too soon. Under pressure, his batting faltered. He averaged under 20 in the series against India.
The media raised eyebrows, the fans started to doubt. The weight of expectation was crushing, once the prodigy began to wobble.
South African cricket had seen this before—youngsters burdened with the task of leading a team in transition, only to crumble under pressure.
Injuries, inconsistency and introspection
Markram’s career stalled between 2019 and 2021. A string of injuries—including a broken finger sustained in a moment of frustration while punching a dressing room door—kept him in and out of the team. His form, when he did play, was disappointing.
Franchise cricket offered refuge. He began to find form in the T20 circuit—first for South Africa, then for franchises like Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
While his Test and ODI numbers remained modest, he emerged as a reliable T20 batter, capable of both anchoring and accelerating.
It was during this period that Markram, the cricketer, matured. The brash youngster who once chased wide half-volleys began to leave them. The impetuous leader who once struggled to marshal senior teammates became a calmer, more thoughtful presence.
Redemption in whites
By 2022, Markram had reinvented himself in white-ball cricket. He became a mainstay of South Africa’s T20I side and was handed the T20I captaincy in 2023.
His leadership was no longer questioned. He led from the front—tactically sharp, emotionally balanced, and, crucially, in form with the bat.
The man who had once been written off returned with fire in his eyes.
In the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, Markram etched his name into the record books by scoring the fastest century—off just 49 balls—in the tournament’s history.
But, it was the red-ball format that would offer Markram his crowning glory.
And, it came in the final of the World Test Championship at Lord’s. When South Africa were reduced to 34/3 chasing 278 on the final day, old fears resurfaced. But Markram, now 30, stood tall. He produced masterclass batting—136 under pressure—guiding South Africa to a famous win; one that will be remembered for ages.
And as he walks back to the pavilion—bat raised, helmet in hand, applause echoing—there’s no doubt anymore.
Aiden Markram has arrived. And this time, he’s here to stay.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)