Temba Bavuma lays bare Australian sledging after WTC Final 2025 win

A curse of over two decades was put to rest at Lord's on Saturday, June 14th. South Africa ended a wait of 27 long years to finally win an ICC trophy as they beat Australia at the World Test Championship Final. The Proteas, led by Temba Bavuma, won the WTC Final 2025 to pick up their first title victory in an ICC championship since their 1998 Knockout Trophy win. Amid these tumultuous years, spanning almost three decades, the Proteas unwillingly picked up the tag of a 'Choker'. Choker, often the team that breaks under pressure to lose out on a crucial win despite making it into the final or a knockout game.

How the WTC Final 2025 win buried the chatter around South Africa being referred to as Chokers

Despite homing legends like Dale Steyn, AB de Villiers, and Graeme Smith in the team over the years, the Proteas couldn't shed the tag. However, Temba Bavuma and Co. buried the chatter, beating the defending champions by 5 wickets to lift the Test Mace. South Africa are now the World Test Champions. Over these years, the players have met unrestrained doubters. No matter the quality of the players on show in the South African camp, the team was never put in the position of a favourite to win any trophy.

Unluckily for South Africa, the instances over the years solidified the opinions of the naysayers. The lot suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the semi-final of the 1999 World Cup against Australia in England. Most recently, the Proteas missed out on the 2024 T20 World Cup title as India claimed the trophy by the barest of margins. However, the WTC Final 2025 brought the chance to push the reset button on all the heartbreaks. Aiden Markram, the captain when South Africa lost the T20 World Cup final to India, led the charge against Australia at Lord's.

The South African opener was out for a duck in the first innings of the all-important match. However, the vice-captain played the second chance seamlessly, piling up a century to defy the momentous 282-run lead set by Australia. Complementing the 136-run knock of Markram from the other end was Temba Bavuma. The skipper battled not just the Aussies but also a hamstring injury to keep going. Bavuma scored 66 as his partnership with Markram pushed Australia out of the contest.

Temba Bavuma reveals the sledges used by Australia at Lord's

Battling against Australia is never an easy task for any team. Besides the quality of attack that the Kangaroos display, it's their aggressive and menacing turnout that troubles the opponents. Out of every team, Australia is not the one to put aside the tactics of getting under the skin of the opposing players. Attacking them with words to break their spirits and hinder their focus, then banking on the opportunity, has long been the Australian template for a win. Before the WTC Final 2025 at Lord's, there was a warning shot to the Proteas. The warning was for South Africa to be ready to be reminded of the suspension of Kagiso Rabada by the Aussies while on the field.

While Australia, led by Pat Cummins, let the ban of the speedster slide, they still reminded the Proteas of their reputation in the game. Following the historic win at Lord's, the Protean skipper talked about hearing the word 'Choker' thrown around the ground. While Australia hoped for a breakthrough against a team known to fumble close contests, South Africa knew that a win here was the only way to lose the tag once and for all.

“While we were batting we could hear the Aussies using that dreaded word: choke,” said Bavuma. “We came in with a lot of belief and a lot of doubters. We got ourselves into the final, there were doubters as to the route we took. This win squashes that. Here’s an opportunity for us as a nation, divided as we are, to unite," he added.

The instance of getting termed as chokers was not the only argument for the Proteas to fight in England. The team was also criticised for the seemingly easier path taken to the WTC Final. The WTC cycle and the format don't put a bar on the number of Tests required for a team to play. The likes of India, Australia, and England are noted to play more Tests over the two-year cycle than South Africa. Nonetheless, the Proteas still broke into the summit clash, where they met Australia, the defending champions. Beating the reigning champions was clearly the hardest hurdle for South Africa to pass, a test that Bavuma and his men passed with flying colours.

“As a country, it’s a chance for us to rejoice in something, to forget about our issues and really come together. I hope it inspires and continues to inspire our country. For this group of players, there were a lot of doubters but the way we played would have wiped all of that out,” continued the Protean skipper.