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,… pic.twitter.com/NVBR3apmKo — 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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
'Harry Brook told Jasprit Bumrah you may be world No.1 but I'm good too': England batter, dropped twice, makes India pay
The first session of Day 3 in the first Test may read 'shared' on broadcast, but despite India picking up two wickets, England seem to be batting themselves into a position from which they can't lose. 118 runs scored before lunch on the third day indicates that England are fighting fire with fire, and despite trailing India by 144 runs, they are still the top team. Harry Brook scored a sparkling half-century, while Jamie Smith continues to support his partner well as England, gradually and carefully, are inching towards India's first-innings total of 471. Harry Brook didn't let the aura of Jasprit Bumrah affect him(AFP) Also Read: India vs England 1st Test Day 3 Live India could have been a lot better placed. Three dropped two catches yesterday and had a dismissal reversed due to a no-ball. Of course, all this after a batting collapse saw them lose seven wickets for 41 runs. From 430/3, India were bowled out inside 500 when 600 looked easily gettable at one stage. To make matters worse, Jasprit Bumrah, who picked up all three England wickets yesterday, added a fourth, or so it seemed when Brook top-edged to Mohammed Siraj. Unfortunately, the umpire's hand went up to signal a no-ball, bringing back haunting memories from the Champions Trophy 2017 final and the World T20 2016 semifinal. Also Read: Rishabh Pant hurls ball in anger after umpire refuses to change it; Bumrah, Gill accused of 'irritating the umpire' Brook, who was on duck, went on to make India pay, scoring a brisk half-century. India, did not learn from their mistake and dropped him again, with Rishabh Pant putting down an edge off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja. However, despite the nervy start yesterday, Brook showed no such nerves. In fact, against India's best bowler, Jasprit Bumrah – No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings, Brook danced down the wicket and slapped him for a disdainful four. It was that same confidence which Brook carried forward to take England to 327/5 at lunch. Brook's feisty takedown of Bumrah Former England batter Nick Knight was more than pleased to see Brook's approach despite the early Bumrah threat. "We are seeing the very best of Harry Brook. When we watched him and admired his skills over the years, we often wondered the strike rate at which he scores in Test match cricket. The audacious shots that he plays, the general approach. I felt generally, this is the more refined version of Harry Brook. I like what I see, playing the game situation very well," Knight said during the lunch interval. "I liked that first over or two as well, when he danced down to Jasprit Bumrah and said look, you may be No. 1 bowler in the world, but I'm pretty good too. I am No. 2 in the world, so this is going to be a good contest. I am not going to sit back here. So I thought that was much to like about it, but what I admired the most about Harry Brook is that he has read the game situation well and tried to develop partnerships. He has been pretty smart and astute. When you talk about Bazball, there was a huge amount of it in that session, but the point that I am trying to make is that it's refining itself constantly. And I think they played the match situation well." The youngster, ranked No. 2 Test batter in the world, stood up to World No. 1 and did not bat an eyelid. Sure, Prasidh Krishna and Siraj finally got into the wicket column, dismissing Ollie Pope and captain Ben Stokes respectively, the battle between Bumrah and Brooks was the most captivating period of play on Saturday morning at Headingley.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Drama at Headingley! Rishabh Pant loses his cool after umpire denies ball change, throws ball in frustration
Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill (Getty Images) NEW DELHI: How often have we seen Rishabh Pant lose his temper on a cricket field? Rarely, if ever. But on Day 3 of the first Test at Headingley, the usually calm and composed wicketkeeper-batter had a rare moment of visible frustration. The incident occurred when Pant requested the on-field umpire to change the ball. The umpire denied the request, leading to an animated reaction from Pant, who threw the ball away in anger. Jasprit Bumrah also joined the discussion, pointing out the condition of the ball, but the umpire stood firm and rejected the appeal again. Despite the momentary flash of emotion, Pant's bat did all the talking as he continued to rewrite the record books in red-ball cricket. He overtook former India captain Rohit Sharma to become the team's leading six-hitter in the history of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). Pant has now smashed 62 sixes in WTC matches, surpassing Rohit's tally of 56 in 40 Tests. The 27-year-old has achieved this feat in just 35 matches, amassing 2,386 runs at an average of 41.85, including five centuries and 13 fifties. — flamboypant (@flamboypant) Globally, England captain Ben Stokes leads the WTC six-hitting charts with 83 sixes in 54 Tests. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Laxmi Ji Idol For Wealth, Peace & Happiness Luxeartisanship Shop Now Undo Pant also surpassed MS Dhoni to register the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter. His seventh Test ton came on Saturday, taking him one clear of Dhoni's six. This was also his fifth Test hundred in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries — the most by any Asian batter. He now has three Test tons in England, and one each in Australia and South Africa. Sitanshu Kotak press conference: Big revelation on Shubman Gill With this, Pant has equalled Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara for the most Test centuries (7) as a designated wicketkeeper among Asian players. On Day 2, Pant had also crossed the 3,000-run mark in Tests, becoming only the second Indian wicketkeeper to do so after Dhoni. He is now the most successful Asian keeper-batter in SENA countries in terms of runs scored. In 44 Tests, Pant has scored 3,082 runs at an average of 43.40, including seven centuries and 15 half-centuries. His runs have come at a remarkable strike rate of 73.69 — a testament to his fearless and counterattacking style. Follow all the live updates, scores, and highlights from the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
'Hes been consistent since moving to no 5 slot': Shastri lauds Rishabh Pants ton against England
New Delhi [India], June 22 (ANI): Former India head coach Ravi Shastri heaped praise on the team's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant following his exceptional batting performance on the second day of the Leeds Test against England at Headingley.. Pant slammed 134 runs off 178 balls, which was laced with 12 boundaries and six maximums, scoring at a run-rate of above 75. Speaking about Pant in a video posted by BCCI, Ravi Shastri said, "He's outrageous. I saw that from the first day I saw him. He's different from the rest. He plays on his own terms. At times, he'll play the numbers game. At times, he'll just do what his mind says. There's a package there that can be extremely dangerous in test match cricket. I think ever since he's come into that number 5 slot, he's been extremely consistent." Further, the former cricketer went on talk about the boundary which Rishabh Pant slammed on his second ball of his innings on the bowling of England captain Ben Stokes to open his account. "If you're 30 for 3, for example, you might be tempted to send someone else. But with him, he's so aggressive, he can turn the course of the game. For the others to make the most of it. The other way to look at it is, if he has got a platform like he got today, in this innings. Comes in after lunch, with a score in excess of 100. He can really make you pay the price for it because of the range of shots and the audacity. I mean, the second ball, how many people will hit Stokes down the ground, second ball? So, it's a message to the opposition. I'm not here to just fool around. I'm here to take the attack to you," the cricketer-turned-commentator added. In the end, the 63-year-old spoke about the 209-run partnership between team India's captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant for the fourth wicket in the ongoing first Test of the five-match series. "I'm really happy for him because when you see where he was after that accident. And to come and get a 100 in the first test of the series. I know what one against Bangladesh is, but this is special. When needed, the first test of the series as vice-captain of the side, batting with his captain, they know each other very well. To get involved in that partnership, fabulous," Shastri concluded. On Saturday, Pant overtook former skipper Rohit Sharma, becoming the team's leading six-hitter in the history of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) history. Pant's six count in WTC has gone up to 62, overtaking Rohit's tally of 56 in 40 Tests. The 27-year-old has smashed these sixes in just 35 matches, scoring a total of 2,386 runs at an average of 41.85 with five centuries and 13 fifties in his WTC leading six-hitter in ICC WTC history is England skipper Ben Stokes, who has smashed 83 sixes in 54 on Saturday also surpassed MS Dhoni to register the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter and continued his good show in what are regarded as tough wickets in countries outside Asia. Pant now has seven centuries, overtaking Dhoni, who has six Test centuries. This is also his fifth century in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) conditions, the most by an Asian batter. Three of these centuries have come in England and one each have come in Australia and South Africa. Also, he has equalled Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara (seven centuries) for most centuries in Tests as a designated keeper among all Asian countries. Earlier on Friday, Pant also completed his 3,000 Test runs, becoming the second Indian wicketkeeper-batter to do so after Dhoni and overtook Dhoni to become Asia's most successful wicketkeeper-batter in SENA on the basis of run count. In 44 Tests for India, Pant has scored 3,082 runs at an average of 43.40, with seven centuries and 15 fifties in 76 innings. His runs have come at a stunning strike rate of 73.69. (ANI)
