Temba Bavuma’s victory in London crowned him as the most successful Test captain in history after just 10 matches.
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Temba Bavuma Silences Doubters with Ice-Cold Celebration
South Africa had the form. South Africa had the players. Yet, when they landed in London a week ago, few believed they could go all the way. The weight of 27 ICC-trophy-less years hung heavily over them — a past filled with near-misses and heartbreaking collapses. Branded as ‘chokers’, they were mocked and dismissed, their past failures shaping every prediction.
But on Saturday, Temba Bavuma rewrote that script. In a defining moment of triumph, he shattered the long-standing narrative and guided South Africa to WTC glory. His celebration was just as iconic — a viral clip showed Temba Bavuma holding the WTC mace like a “bazooka”, playfully mimicking firing shots into the crowd. The internet erupted, with one fan summing it up best: “He fired shots at all the doubters.”
THE CELEBRATION FROM TEMBA BAVUMA WITH THE WTC MACE. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/ovzuumJv4P
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 14, 2025
Bavuma fired shots to all the doubters pic.twitter.com/QtF8sdzoVM
— Werner (@Werries_) June 14, 2025
Temba Bavuma scripts history at Lord’s
South Africa’s triumph at Lord’s not only ended a 27-year ICC drought but also cemented Temba Bavuma’s place in Test cricket history. With nine wins and one draw from his first ten matches, Bavuma now holds the best start for any Test captain in the modern era.
Seven consecutive victories followed, culminating in a five-wicket win over Australia in the WTC 2025 final at Lord’s. Bavuma became just the second captain, after Percy Chapman in the 1920s, to win nine of his first ten Tests and the second since Warwick Armstrong to remain unbeaten across them — a feat unmatched in the modern era.