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South Africa finally removed the stain of ‘Choks’ and achieved the tag of ‘World Champion’. How to remove, beating the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) at ‘Home of Cricket’ The Lords, 8 -time World Champion Australia in all three formats. Captain Temba Bavuma, Batter Aidon Markram and Pesar Kagiso Rabada wrote the historic victory.
South Africa, who returned to cricket after a 22-year ban in 1992, had earlier lost 1 final and 7 semi-finals in the separate World Cup of the three formats. Prior to WTC, the team’s only ICC Trophy also came as the Champions Trophy in 1998. In this tournament too, the team lost 5 semi -finals. After continuous defeat for 27 years, South Africa now went to win an ICC tournament.
Story of South Africa becoming champions after losing 12 semi -finals and 1 final …
South Africa returned in 1992
By 1970, only white players used to get a chance in South Africa’s cricket team. As soon as ICC came to know about this, he banned the team for 22 years. The team returned in 1992 and the team made it to the semi -finals of the ODI World Cup in the same year, but due to rain rules, they lost by 19 runs against England. However, the team had revealed with their intentions in this tournament that the World Cup Trophy was not far away from them, but the long journey of struggle started from here. It took 34 years to finish.
ODI World Cup
Lost 6 semi -finals, 1 also not final
After lifting the ban of ICC, the South Africa played the ODI World Cup for the first time in 1992. The team performed brilliantly and made it to the semi -finals, but lost to England. From 1996 to 2015, the team reached the knockout round 5 times in 6, but sometimes the quarter -finals were out after losing the semi -finals. In 2003 and 2019, the team could not reach the knockout round.
In 2023, South Africa again made a comeback and played the semi -finals, but lost to Australia. The team lost the third semi -finals in the ODI World Cup against Australia. Apart from this, the team lost 2 times to New Zealand and one time from West Indies and England. The team won the only knockout match in 2015, when South Africa defeated Sri Lanka in the quarter -finals. However, the team also had to lose in the semi -finals of this tournament.
T20 World Cup
India defeated the only final
When the World Cup of cricket’s smallest format started in 2007, ICC hosted South Africa. The team defeated the West Indies in the first match. In the Super-8 too, the team won 2 consecutive matches, but the last match had to be out of the group stage after losing to India.
In 2009, South Africa again reached the semi -finals, but lost to Pakistan this time. In 2010 and 2012, the group was out of stage. In 2014, the semi -finals reached, but had to lose from India.
From 2016 to 2022, the team again dropped out of the group stage and made it to the finals for the first time in 2024 last year. The team defeated Afghanistan semi-finals and won a knockout match in the T20 World Cup for the first time. South Africa had a chance to defeat India to become champions. In the final, the team wanted just 30 runs off 30 balls at one time, but South Africa lost by 7 runs.
Champions Trophy
Lost 5 semi -finals after the title
In 1998, ICC first launched its second 50-over tournament as the Champions Trophy. Its name was sometimes Wils International, sometimes a knockout trophy, but now it is known as the Champions Trophy. South Africa performed brilliantly in it and also raised the trophy by winning 3 consecutive knockout matches. Jacques Callis became the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament.
It was the first and only ICC title of South Africa’s Senior Cricket Team by 13 June 2025. After this, the team took part in the Champions Trophy 7 times, but the title was not even destined to reach the final. The team lost 2 semi -finals from India in 2000 and 2002. In 2006, West Indies and England in 2013 beat him out by defeating the semi -finals.
South Africa could not even cross the group stage in 2004, 2009 and 2017. After the first title, the team played 5 knockout matches in the Champions Trophy, losing 4 semi -finals. At the same time, the only quarter -final against England also won in the year 2000. That is, the team has been choke in the World Cup for 32 years and in the Champions Trophy for 26 years.
South Africa was called Choks
Chokers means falling in front of pressure on big occasions. With the ability of South Africa, this black shadow was going on for 34 years. This team, who played their cricket in ODIs, Tests or T20 every form, was able to play the same World Cup final, in which the team lost to India last year. The team lost 12 semi -finals before the WTC final. Sometimes the rain cheated, sometimes luck. The victory never achieved.
World Test Championship
First success in 6 years
After the Champions Trophy, ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup, the ICC also started the Test format tournament in 2019. It was named the World Test Championship i.e. WTC, in which 6-6 series are played between the top-9 teams for 2 years. At the end of the points table, the top-2 locations are finalized in teams.
South Africa could not play the first 2 finals of WTC, but an entry in the third manner and won it. The team had to win 5 out of 6 Tests to reach the finals at one time. South Africa defeated Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the next 3 series and entered the title match.
South Africa also appeared under pressure in the final against Australia. Winning the toss and bowling first, Australia did all out at 212, but the team itself could score 138 runs. In the second innings, Australia again scored 218 runs and put a target of 282 in front.
South Africa joined Suraj on the third day of the match at The Lord’s Stadium. The ball was getting more swing due to the first 2 days of clouds, the clouds went on the third day and the batting became easier. Aden Markram and Temba Bavuma took advantage of this and took a partnership of 147 runs and brought the team to the threshold of victory. Markram scored a century, while Kagiso Rabada made the team the world Test champion with 9 wickets. Markram was also the Player of the Final.
Become world champion Cricket has now found 8 different champions in all three formats with South Africa’s WTC win. New Zealand and South Africa have never become champions in ODIs and T20s. At the same time, the WTC could never win, England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India and West Indies have Trophy of ODI and T20 World Cup. However, among these 8 teams, Australia is the only team that holds the record of winning all ICC trophy. The team has won 6 ODIs, 2 Champions Trophy, 1 T20 World Cup and 1 World Test Championship.