2 days ago
The wait ends: Social media reacts to South Africa winning WTC final
South Africa won the World Test Championship (WTC) on Saturday, completing a remarkable turnaround to beat Australia by five wickets as it successfully chased down an imposing 282-run target.
This was South Africa's first ICC title in 27 years, after its KnockOut Trophy win in 1998.
Proteas' win prompted reactions from across the world, including from several legends, such as AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Sachin Tendulkar and Chris Gayle. Here are some of them.
AB de Villiers
'Fantastic win and so well played! Hats off to Markram for that match winning century, and Temba for leading with such ice and fire all through,' De Villiers posted on X.
Congratulations @ProteasMenCSA
Fantastic win and so well played! Hats off to Markram for that match winning century, and Temba for leading with such ice and fire all through👏🏻🏆
What an incredible experience of watching this beautiful format of the game! The built up drama,… — AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) June 14, 2025
'What an incredible experience of watching this beautiful format of the game! The built up drama, the slow anticipation, and the sweet victory to end it all were moments to savour.. and to experience that with my two boys thrilled and on their toes — couldn't have imagined it better than this. Go Proteas!' he added.
Sachin Tendulkar
Tendulkar praised the calm and composure in the final innings, calling the Markram-Bavuma partnership one that turned 'hope into history': 'Test cricket continues to weave its magic. In a final where every session had its own story, @ProteasMenCSA found calm in the storm. Markram's composure and Bavuma's grit under pressure stood tall in the fourth innings. A century that will be remembered, a partnership that turned hope into history,' Tendulkar wrote on 'X'.
Test cricket continues to weave its magic.
In a final where every session had its own story, @ProteasMenCSA found calm in the storm. Markram's composure and Bavuma's grit under pressure stood tall in the fourth innings. A century that will be remembered, a partnership that… — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 14, 2025
Dale Steyn
HOME!!!!! 🏆 — Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) June 14, 2025
Former South African pacer Dale Steyn captured the mood in a single word: 'HOME!!!!!'
Herschelle Gibbs
Herschelle Gibbs acknowledged the flawless execution from the toss itself: 'Well done @ProteasMenCSA ..everything went right from the toss already .. enjoy the celebrations'.
Well done @ProteasMenCSA .. everything went right from the toss already .. enjoy the celebrations 🥂🥂🥂 👏 — Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) June 14, 2025
Chris Gayle
'This is a career-defining century for him, and he would be really pleased with it since he helped South Africa win their first world trophy.' Chris Gayle celebrated the display of grit and class in South Africa's famous triumph.
Masterful Markram! Great win by South Africa led by Temba Bavuma. This was a great ad for test cricket. Congratulations to ICC World Test Champions South Africa!@Dafabet — Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) June 14, 2025
Kumar Sangakkara
'Masterful Markram! Great win by South Africa led by Temba Bavuma. This was a great ad for test cricket. Congratulations to ICC World Test Champions South Africa!' Kumar Sangakkara hailed the team's belief: 'Bosh and Boom. What a win for @ProteasMenCSAthey have out skilled and out wanted the Australians. tremendously led by Temba Bavuma.
Bosh and Boom 💥 What a win for @ProteasMenCSA they have out skilled and out wanted the Australians. tremendously led by Temba Bavuma. They're a team that shows how powerful purpose, passion and belief are in shaping the path to a trophy. A glorious day for South Africa — Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) June 14, 2025
Ian Bishop
'They're a team that shows how powerful purpose, passion and belief are in shaping the path to a trophy. A glorious day for South Africa.' Ian Bishop underlined Markram's nerveless century and the team's historic achievement.
One of the most phenomenally responsible, nerveless 4th innings centuries in the game from Aiden Markram. Fitting that the former ICCU19World Cup winning captain & (K G Rabada) helps guide Temba Bavuma's team to the 🌈 Nation's greatest cricketing moment. ICC WTC Champs 2025. — Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) June 14, 2025
'One of the most phenomenally responsible, nerveless 4th innings centuries in the game from Aiden Markram. Fitting that the former ICCU19World Cup winning captain (K G Rabada) helps guide Temba Bavuma's team to the Nation's greatest cricketing moment. ICC WTC Champs 2025,' said Bishop.
