Keshav Maharaj and Temba Bavuma were visibly moved after South Africa sealed a landmark victory over Australia to win the third edition of the World Test Championship. The emotional scenes reflected the weight of history lifted, as the Proteas ended a 27-year wait for an ICC title with this iconic triumph at Lord’s.
South Africa’s Redemption at Lord’s: A Moment for the Ages
It had to be this moment. Shaun Pollock was in the commentary box, Graeme Smith waited near the boundary, and AB de Villiers sat in the stands with his son. Three icons who have defined South African cricket for decades were present at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground. Each had faced crushing heartbreaks—semifinal exits, last-over losses, and the enduring “chokers” tag—but on this day, all of it was washed away. What mattered was witnessing their beloved Proteas defeat Australia by five wickets to lift the ICC World Test Championship mace—South Africa’s first ICC title in 27 years.
Yet, perhaps no one embodied the emotion of this triumph more than Keshav Maharaj. The left-arm spinner, who broke down in 2022 after South Africa’s shock T20 World Cup loss to the Netherlands, now stood on the Lord’s balcony witnessing a defining moment in the nation’s sporting history. As he shared a heartfelt moment with Graeme Smith, Keshav Maharaj could no longer hold back his tears. Overcome with emotion, he sobbed uncontrollably—his reaction capturing the depth of pain, perseverance, and eventual glory that this victory represents for South African cricket.
Keshav Maharaj , the only Indian-origin player to touch the WTC trophy.
— Devendra Soni (@DevendraSo37461) June 14, 2025
His Interview with graham smith can make Even Adult Cry 🥲
Congratulations South Africa 🇿🇦 and Captain Temba For making this History.#WtcFinal2025#SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/3aZYGK3AZl
“It’s special, it’s an honour to lift the cup for everyone out here and back home. It’s what the country’s about—the unity among everyone in the last five days. We’re very grateful, as a team, as a nation, as a proud country,” said South African captain Temba Bavuma, reflecting on the monumental WTC Final victory.
“Thanks to everyone who’s been supporting us. Through adversity, we’ve stood strong. We honour those who’ve come before us—may this be a stepping stone for greater things to come,” he added, offering a heartfelt message to fans and past generations of cricketers. Bavuma’s leadership, marked by quiet resilience and unwavering composure, now stands as a symbol of South Africa’s long-awaited redemption on the world stage.
Temba Bavuma emotional
Another image that left the cricketing world speechless was that of captain Temba Bavuma — the silent warrior who battled through a hamstring injury to score arguably the most significant 66 runs of his life. His gritty partnership of 147 with centurion Aiden Markram turned the tide of the WTC final. And yet, when the final runs were struck and his teammates erupted in joy, Bavuma sat quietly, face buried in his hands, tears flowing freely. He eventually stood up to join the celebrations, but in that solitary frame, a thousand emotions found voice — years of heartbreak, pressure, pride, and finally, relief.
Equally emotional was Dale Steyn, watching from the sidelines. The legendary pacer, a central figure in some of South Africa’s most painful near-misses, including the 2015 World Cup semi-final in Auckland, struggled for words as he addressed the broadcasters. His voice broke as memories of past failures flooded in, juxtaposed against the euphoria of this long-awaited triumph.
This was no ordinary win. It was a moment of closure — a cathartic redemption for players past and present, and a promise to future generations that South Africa had finally broken its ICC curse.
