Temba Bavuma delivered a heartfelt message to his fellow South Africans after Proteas' historic World Test Champions (WTC) 2023-2025 title triumph which came after hammering the mighty Australia by five wickets in the grand finale at the iconic Lord's ground on June 14, Saturday. Unlike Temba Bavuma's jubilant teammates who immediately rushed onto the field at Lord's, the South African captain remained standing on the Lord's balcony in the moments following the winning run. He stood motionless, allowing the emotions to wash over him as South Africa secured the coveted WTC title, which ended their 27-year-long wait of first ICC trophy. This moment was undoubtedly the pinnacle of his Test career and arguably the most towering achievement in South Africa's cricketing history.
When Bavuma finally made his way down to collect the prestigious Test mace, the crowd at Lord's erupted in its loudest cheer. He had guided South Africa to a major ICC trophy, a feat that had eluded the nation for years. The victory was made even more poignant by the numerous near-misses in past tournaments and by the historical significance of it being achieved under the captaincy of the country’s first-ever black African captain. This was a moment of profound importance, carrying a powerful message from Bavuma and his team to a nation still grappling with the legacies of its racial past.
With the composure of a leader who understood the deeper meaning of this victory beyond mere silverware, Temba Bavuma shared a heartfelt message with his fellow South Africans, acknowledging the journey and the importance of the moment for the nation. He requested his countrymen to forget the divide and rejoice in the moment, and just be one.
“I mean, us as a team, you know, we got ourselves into the final. There were doubters as to the route that we took – supposedly playing weaker teams. We’re happy that we were able to perform our best, and hopefully that kind of squashes that. And I think for us as a country, you know, here’s an opportunity for us to – as divided as we are at times – to forget all of that, rejoice in this moment, and just be one. You know, I’m sure the people back home will be celebrating it with us, and you can trust that we’ll be celebrating it," Bavuma said after the match.
South Africa's win in the WTC final served as a resounding answer to their doubters. Despite finishing atop the WTC standings, questions had been raised about the legitimacy of their position, with some critics pointing to the fact that they played fewer matches than India, Australia, and England, and that their victories came against teams perceived as weaker. However, on the grandest stage of them all, South Africa emphatically dismantled the reigning champions, Australia, effectively silencing any lingering doubts about their deserving place as champions. For their captain, Bavuma, this victory marked a monumental moment in an already remarkable journey, as the first black African captain of the Proteas became the first to lift a major ICC trophy.
Despite possessing evident talent, Bavuma has faced persistent scrutiny throughout his career. His place in the team has been questioned on numerous occasions, and the complexities of the 'quota' system were frequently highlighted whenever he experienced a setback in performance. Yet, he responded to these criticisms with an outstanding performance during the 2023–25 WTC cycle, amassing an impressive 711 runs at a commendable average of 49, all while remaining unbeaten as the leader of the side.
South Africa's triumph over Australia was secured by a compelling five-wicket victory, highlighted by a sensational century in the fourth innings from Aiden Markram and a resilient supporting innings from Bavuma, who bravely battled through a hamstring injury to contribute a crucial 66 runs. Their successful chase of 282 runs stands as the second-highest fourth-innings total ever recorded at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. While the batsmen played a pivotal role in the victory, the bowling attack, spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada, was equally instrumental. Rabada's remarkable performance, which yielded nine wickets in the match, led a youthful pace attack that included Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi, who combined brilliantly to dismiss Australia for a mere 207 runs in their second innings, thereby setting the platform for the historic run chase.