‘We have worked hard for this moment’ - South Africa captain Temba Bavuma pats team for their efforts after WTC 2025 title win

‌South Africa captain Temba Bavuma’s second innings half-century against Australia in the World Test Championship 2025 final at Lord’s symbolised his side’s grit and urge to win an ICC event and end the drought. His Proteas side also proved all the doubters, who questioned their place in the final of the marquee event, wrong with a clinical performance against the defending champions.

Bavuma was elated with the quality of cricket that his team played over the course of four days and underlined the hard work and the preparation his side did to get ready for the final.

"It's been a special couple of days, Bavuma said. “At some point, it felt like we were back in South Africa with all the support in the stands. We came here with a lot of belief, we've prepared hard for this and we've worked hard for this moment. It's been a special moment for us as a team, a special moment for all the people back home. Probably it will really sink in in a couple of days, but yeah, it's been special.

“I think us as a team, we got ourselves into the final. There were doubts as to the route that we took, supposedly playing weaker teams. We're happy that we were able to perform like this, and hopefully, that kind of squashes that,” he explained.

The team bounced back after a let-off of the Aussies from 73/7 in their second batting essay to allow them to score 207, which took the overall lead to 281. And at 70/2 when he walked into the middle with more than 200 runs still to get, a series of all the past ICC knockouts would have flashed through the Proteas skipper’s mind but he was a man on a mission to end the long streak.

"Definitely the energy was there, I think us as a team, we've been wanting this," he explained. “We've been knocking at that door, being relentless, getting ourselves into positions where we can be in the finals. We've gone through the heartache, we've gone through the disappointment, and seen it with past players who've come before us. The sun is on us at the moment and that responsibility, we've been carrying it and hopefully this is one of many.”

Bavuma also showered praise on his match-winning duo of Aiden Markram, who scored his first century at Lord’s and Kagiso Rabada, who ended with a nine-wicket match haul. Markram, along with his captain, was instrumental in chasing down a daunting target as they built together a match-defining partnership of 147 for the third wicket en route to winning the contest by five wickets. Meanwhile, Rabada rocked the Aussie top-order in both innings to restrict them to below-par scores and ending with a match-haul of 9/110.

"Yeah, KG is a massive player,” the skipper mentioned. “A couple of days ago, I went to the ICC Hall of Fame meet. I think in a couple of years, KG will be one of those guys. When he came into the game, there was controversy behind him. He was motivated to do what he needed to do, and like a champion, he came and did what he did.

“Unbelievable. A couple of months ago, people were asking why Aiden is in the team. I think stats are important, but character is something that we look at. A guy like Aiden, he carries all those traits. We knew in the second innings we were going to have to come out and play and he led it in true Aiden fashion. Again, another massive player for us. Character has been a big thing for us as a team and those two guys are the ones who carry that.”

Bavuma also reiterated that the title win not only ended their ICC trophy drought but would also play an important role in uniting a divided nation in celebrating their wonderful achievement.

"I think for us as a country, 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. I'm sure the people back home will be celebrating it with us, and you can trust that we'll be celebrating it massively as well," the South Africa skipper signed off.