Temba Bavuma was over the moon as South Africa finally broke their 27-year ICC title drought with a sensational five-wicket win over Australia in the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 (WTC Final 2025) at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on Saturday, June 14.
The Proteas skipper’s sheer emotion after the historic triumph was zoomed in on by the camera as he was seen lifting the coveted Mace like a gun and mock-firing into the air. Temba Bavuma’s celebration summed up the pride, pain, and passion of his journey.
Temba Bavuma fires with the Mace as South Africa crowned WTC Champions
Bavuma said that this is a special win for the entire country after several heartaches and disappointments in the ICC events. The skipper noted that the energy on the field was electric, and the hunger to silence doubters was evident in every run, every wicket, and every celebration.
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Temba Bavuma said at the post-match presentation, “It has been a special couple of days; it felt like we were back home in South Africa with the support we have had. Special moment for us as a team, special moment back home, will take a couple of days to sink in.
The energy was there; we have been wanting this as a team, we have been knocking on the door, we have gone through the heartache and the disappointments, we have seen it with the past players, and the sun is on us. Hopefully this is one of many.”
Temba Bavuma predicts the ICC Hall of Fame honour for Kagiso Rabada
The South Africa captain has special praise for the pace sensation Kagiso Rabada, who played a key role in their WTC Final 2025 triumph. Rabada, who scalped 10 wickets in the final, was recently at the center of controversy for serving the ban for testing positive for recreational drug use.
And Temba mentioned that Rabada let the ball do the talking with match-defining spells that proved exactly why he’s regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of this era and predicted that the fast bowler will be in the ICC Hall of Fame in the future.
Bavuma further said, “KG is a massive player; in a couple of years he will be in the ICC Hall of Fame. He was under controversy, but he did what he does.”
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Aiden Markram was unbelievable: Temba Bavuma
The Proteas captain also lauded Aiden Markram for playing one of the best innings in the format in the high-pressure game with composure and unwavering intent. He has shown the courage to rise in a moment and delivered when it counted the most against Australia. Markram played a memorable knock of 136 runs off 207 balls to help South Africa lift the ICC trophy after 27 years.
Bavuma signed off by saying, “Markram was unbelievable. Stats are important, but character is what we look at, and Aiden has that. Another massive player for us. As a team, we got ourselves into the final. There were doubters with the route we took, supposedly beating weaker teams. This is for them. I’m sure the people back home will be celebrating.”
