On 14 June 2025, Temba Bavuma lifted the World Take a look at Championship mace at Lord’s after South Africa beat Australia by 5 wickets.
It was the nation’s first main world cricket title in 27 years, and it got here with Bavuma main from the entrance regardless of a hamstring harm.
That win ended years of close to misses on the enterprise finish of world tournaments.
For South African cricket followers who observe a bookmaker covering the major sports as intently because the scorecard, it was the day a proficient facet lastly acquired over the road on the most important stage.
On this article, we replicate on the captain who guided the Proteas to a long-awaited title.
A historic appointment
Bavuma made historical past when he was named South Africa’s first black African Take a look at captain, a milestone in a sport that was closed to many throughout apartheid.
He had already damaged floor as the primary black African to attain a Take a look at century for his nation, and the captaincy added to his standing within the sport.
Born in Cape City in 1990, Bavuma labored his manner up by home cricket earlier than establishing himself within the Take a look at facet.
South Africa’s earlier world trophy had come again in 1998, on the event then generally known as the ICC KnockOut, with a win over the West Indies.
The street to Lord’s
South Africa reached the 2025 last after topping the World Take a look at Championship desk, and Bavuma was central to that run.
Throughout the cycle, he handed 50 on seven events in 13 innings and averaged near 60, main the facet each on the sector and with the bat.
His 711 runs throughout the championship have been among the many most of any batter within the competitors.
A last to recollect
The ultimate itself was tense.
South Africa have been bowled out for 138 of their first innings, with Pat Cummins taking six wickets, earlier than Kagiso Rabada and the bowlers hauled them again into the competition.
Chasing 282 to win, the Proteas leaned on a century from Aiden Markram and a battling 66 from Bavuma, who carried a hamstring downside by his innings.
Kyle Verreynne hit the successful runs on the fourth morning. Markram’s 136 was the very best rating of the match and earned him the participant of the match award.
A record-setting chief
The triumph prolonged Bavuma’s outstanding report as Take a look at captain, which included an unbeaten run and a string of victories that drew comparability with leaders from cricket’s distant previous.
He shares with England’s Percy Chapman the report for probably the most Take a look at wins to begin a captaincy profession.
Below his calm management, South Africa shed the tag of a facet that struggled in finals.
He joined Pat Cummins and Kane Williamson as the one captains to elevate the mace within the occasion’s brief historical past.
The 2025 win means South Africa joined New Zealand and Australia as World Take a look at Championship winners.
For Bavuma, it was the reward for years of endurance, and it introduced cricket supporters throughout the nation collectively.
What he mentioned after
“It’s not simple being captain of South Africa however all of the sacrifices, all the frustration, really feel price it,” he mentioned.
“Giving up is at all times an possibility. It’s at all times there behind your thoughts, however one thing type of holds you on.
“For me, it was that second there to be recognised as greater than only a black African cricketer, however to be seen as somebody who’s completed one thing that the nation has needed.
“That’s one thing that I’ll positively stroll round with my chest out. And I hope that it continues to encourage our nation.”
