South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma has described the emotional homecoming his team received on Wednesday as a reflection of just how significant their recent World Test Championship triumph is for the nation.
Bavuma and his victorious teammates were met by thousands of jubilant supporters upon their arrival in Johannesburg, fresh from their five-wicket victory over Australia at Lord’s last weekend. The triumph marked South Africa’s first International Cricket Council (ICC) title since 1998, ending years of heartache in major tournament knockout stages.
Speaking at an official reception at Cricket South Africa’s headquarters, Bavuma admitted he was taken aback by the enthusiastic welcome. “It was quite overwhelming. I’ve never seen so many people at the airport before,” he said. “It’s very different to when we returned from the last T20 World Cup. I suppose it only really hits you when you see the emotion on people’s faces—that’s when you start to realise the magnitude of what we’ve achieved.”
Reflecting on the hard-fought nature of the victory, Bavuma praised the resilience and character of his side. “It was a very South African way to do it—never simple or easy,” he said. “That’s what makes this team unique. We embrace the full spectrum of what it means to be South African.”
The 35-year-old, who has faced his share of criticism since making his debut for the Proteas in 2014, believes their journey offers inspiration for others. “It sends a message to young cricketers and to anyone chasing a dream: it’s never straightforward, but if you stay passionate and positive, you can achieve what others deem impossible,” he said.
Bavuma dismissed past labels of South Africa being “chokers” in high-pressure situations. “The Aussies threw that word around, but we never accepted it as our identity,” he explained. “We just kept going, stayed relentless, and trusted that if we kept knocking hard enough, eventually the doors would open.”
The captain hopes this victory marks the start of a new era of success for South African cricket. “We want to leave a legacy, to inspire future teams to win trophies. Perhaps in two or three years, if we keep building this winning culture, we’ll have a legacy to talk about.”
