Bravo, Bavuma's boys
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South Africa became Test champ thanks to grit & patience. Pointers for a young Indian team
Choker' is the unkindest of labels in sport. It means you have the talent, but not the temperament to win, especially when it matters most. It means your defeats are caused as much by your opponents as by the demons in your head. It is a terrible cross to bear and post-apartheid South Africa carried it in cricket for nearly three decades. Starting from Allan Donald's needless run-out against Australia in 1999 ODI World Cup semifinal to their capitulation from a dominant position against India in the 2024 T20 World Cup final – the Proteas frequently settled for failure when success looked eager for an embrace.
In the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's, South Africa rewrote the script, buried the tag of 'choker' forever. They were up against an opponent which relishes the big stage and seldom concedes an inch. But this time captain Temba Bavuma and his men didn't need any. In a high pressure encounter, where every delivery was fiercely contested over four days, South Africa played the game, ignored the occasion. Opener Aiden Markram's 136 will rank among the greatest Test innings of all time. Paceman Kagiso Rabada (5/51 and 4/59) was the knife that cut through Australia. But it was injured captain Bavuma's 66 that was inspirational, typifying the new determined South Africa which deservedly became champions.
Hopefully, the triumph will also act as a unifier in a country increasingly torn apart by differences within. South Africa's triumph also carries a lesson or two for a largely inexperienced Team India touring England. Australia were the favourites to win. But S Africa bowled with fire, batted with patience and discipline. They never gave up. They believed. Captain Gill and company would do well to imbibe these traits on a tour that will test them hard.
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This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
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