Temba Bavuma’s crucial role in South Africa’s historic ICC WTC 2025 Championship win.
Finally, South Africa lifted an ICC title after numerous heartbreaks in finals. The Temba Bavuma-led side defeated the mighty Australia by five wickets in the 2023-25 World Test Championship final at Lord’s on Saturday. The captain led from the front, overcoming a hamstring issue to stitch a championship-winning stand of 147 runs with Aiden Markram.
Bavuma ends as joint highest run-getter for SA in WTC 2023-25 cycle
A lot of credit goes to the new ‘Captain Cool’ Temba Bavuma for leading his team to their maiden WTC title. He emerged the joint highest run-getter for South Africa in this cycle, scoring 711 runs at an average of 59.25 with two tons and five fifties in eight Tests in. At the same time, David Bedingham scored identical runs for South Africa but played 13 Tests to reach that figure.
Bavuma rescues SA after losses in New Zealand
South Africa’s win in the WTC final came when the board itself did not give much priority to this format. It may be recalled that the board sent a second-string Test side to play Tests in New Zealand while the first-team players played a domestic league – SA20 tournament – at home. South Africa lost both the Tests against the Kiwis.
Reality struck the Proteas. After that debacle, South Africa have maintained an unbeaten record all the way to the title. This comes despite not having the full squad to play Test series as ODIs, T20s, domestic tournaments and injuries kept few first-team players away from the longer version of the game.
Read More: WTC 25 Final, SA vs AUS, Day 4: SA create history, win first ICC title in 27 years
Bavuma’s admirable captaincy
Bavuma’s captaincy was spot on. He led South Africa in 10 Tests in the cycle, winning nine and one ending in a draw. He is yet to lose a Test for South Africa. Although critics may say South Africa “beat nobody” to reach the final, it cannot be denied that Bavuma’s team played good cricket under him to reach the title round and win it. It was his calm leadership that inspired his teammates to believe in themselves and pull off an improbable win against Australia in the final.
However, Bavuma made the most of the resources he had on his plate. He kept a low profile, and gave his team the freedom to express themselves. He was unperturbed when things didn’t go his way, and waited patiently to make comeback to seize the momentum back.
Final showcases Bavuma’s leadership qualities
The final gives ample reasons to believe that Bavuma’s captaincy was top-notch. In the final, he took a bold decision to bowl first knowing very well that it would be tough to bat last. But Bavuma wanted to make the most of the conditions on offer to the bowlers. His bowling unit did well to restrict Australia to 212 but his batters let him down in the first innings.
Even as his team conceded a 74-run first-innings lead, Bavuma wasn’t fluttered and kept egging his bowlers and fielders on to give their best in the second innings. With Australia looking down and out at 73/7 in the second innings, Bavuma could have closed the game sooner. But a dropped catch and few lapses on the field saw them release the pressure on the Aussies, who put a competitive 282-run target.
Read More: WTC 25 Final, SA vs AUS, Day 3: Markram-Bavuma stand takes SA within shouting distance of the target
No Test captain in almost 100 years had won nine of their first ten matches, until Temba Bavuma.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) June 14, 2025
He now holds the world record for the best start as skipper, with no defeats so far 💥 pic.twitter.com/eF0aPUiWoc
South Africa came out determined to change their fates
During the chase, Bavuma, overcame a dropped catch and a hamstring issue, to make a patient 66 off 134 balls with 5 fours, to put his team on the brink of victory. His support to Markram for the third wicket for 147-run stand despite him struggling to run or walk showed his character as a leader and the desperation to win the match. It rubbed on Markram and the batters to follow who ensured there were no hiccups in the end.
Eventually, South Africa won as batters and bowlers combined along with brilliant Bavuma as captain to string a memorable cricketing glory for the country.
Read More: WTC 25 Final, AUS vs SA, Day 2: Cummins’ 6-28 dismantles SA;Australia 218 ahead at stumps
