New Delhi: It couldn’t have been better for South Africa captain Temba Bavuma and his team. As Proteas wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne drove a shot through cover to ensure his team lay hands on ICC Test Mace, the moment was more than just a win in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s on Saturday.
Skipper Bavuma summed up the feeling of what every South African cricketer, present and past, felt about the significance of lifting an ICC trophy after a gap of 27 years.
“(It’s) a special moment for us and as a team, a special moment for the people back home. Probably, it’ll really sink in in a couple of days. Year, it’s been special,” he said in a post match interview.
“We’ve been knocking at that door, being relentless, getting ourselves into positions where we can be in finals. We’ve gone through the heartache, we’ve gone through the disappointment, seeing it with past players who have come before us. The sun is on us at the moment, that responsibility, we’ve been carrying it, and hopefully this is one of many.”
Some moments are priceless 🖼️👑#WTC25 pic.twitter.com/4S9CzyIg8u
— ICC (@ICC) June 15, 2025
That “heartache” is a fact for the Rainbow Nation, which suffered too many near-misses—from the disappointment of the 1999 ODI World Cup semi-final to the T20 World Cup title last year.
South Africa’s story in international cricket has been one of talent overshadowed by repeated heartbreak in ICC tournaments. Despite modern day legends, be it Allan Donald, Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, Dayle Steyn, AB de Villiers, or Faf du Plessis, and dominating bilateral series with consistency, the Proteas have faltered when it matters most.
Time and again, they’ve stumbled on the big stage, earning them the unfortunate and stubborn label of “chokers.” Now with their Test victory, South Africa has broken the jinx finally.
Ever since the two finalists were confirmed earlier this year, the WTC final clash was dismissed by many as a mismatch. Critics even went so far as to call it a ‘farce’, arguing that South Africa had secured their spot by beating supposedly weaker sides.
The Proteas made it to the WTC final on the back of series wins against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, along with a loss to New Zealand and a drawn series against India during the 2023-25 cycle.
“We got ourselves into the final, there were doubters on the route we took, this win squashes that,” Bavuma said at the post-match presentation.
Temba now has an unbeaten record as captain in 10 Tests. With the bat in the final, he made 66 off 134 balls and a 147-run stand with Markram setting the tone of the chase.
String of disappointments
Whether it was nerves, bad luck, or poor decision-making under pressure, South Africa’s inability to cross the final hurdle frustrated cricket fans. It has been a story of a team capable of greatness but haunted by the weight of expectation and collapse when it mattered most.
And, it all began with the infamous 1999 semi-final — a moment that still haunts SA cricket fans. Chasing 214 against Australia at Edgbaston, they found themselves at 205-9 heading into the final over. All-rounder Lance Klusener smashed the first two deliveries of pacer Damien Fleming for boundaries, leveling the scores.
With four balls left and just one run needed, a field mix-up threw away the well-achieved victory. Klusener called for a single on the fourth delivery, but Allan Donald failed to respond in time. A run-out followed, and with the match tied, Australia advanced to the final by virtue of a higher position in the Super Six stage.
Since returning to international cricket in 1991 post-apartheid, South Africa has featured in all 18 editions of the 50-over and T20 World Cups. But, they’ve reached the final only once—in the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados that they lost to India by 7 runs.
In total, South Africa has lost 10 of their 12 knockout matches, including seven semi-final exits. The Champions Trophy record is equally disappointing: They haven’t played the final since winning the inaugural edition in Bangladesh in 1998.
These instances, among others, contributed to the perception of South Africa as perennial underachievers in ICC tournaments.
On Saturday, Bavuma showed what South African cricketers can achieve. The skipper batted out of his skin and led from the front, as he stood tall fighting the pain of a hamstring strain which he had picked up early in his innings.
In the end, Maharaj and Bavuma couldn’t hold back tears, while past greats Smith, Pollock, and de Villiers soaked in the feeling as well. The day had been sunny.
“Through adversity, we’ve stood strong as a team and here we are today, to raise a trophy that’s alluded us for a number of years, but we honour those before us, to those that are here and to those that have come, we love you, we appreciate you and continue to keep supporting us, we’re doing good things as a team, and as a country, and may this just be the stepping stone of greater things to come,” spinner Keshav Maharaj told Smith.
The win represents the culmination of years of effort, overcoming past disappointments, and silencing critics. But most importantly, it serves as a validation to all the fans—never mind loyalties.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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