Temba Bavuma reveals Pat Cummins & Co. mocked South Africa with 'Chokers' sledge in WTC Final

South Africa National Cricket Team captain Temba Bavuma has revealed that the Pat Cummins-led Australia National Cricket Team mocked the Proteas with the cruel 'chokers' sledge during the ICC World Test Championship Final.

Temba Bavuma said that the Aussies tried to get under their skin when they were batting and he clearly heard the use of the distasteful word 'choke'.

Also Read: Watch: Keshav Maharaj cries like a baby as South Africa end 27-year wait for ICC trophy

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Chokers no more, South Africa finally get past the finish line

South Africa is a proud sporting nation, and in cricket, it has produced some of the greatest players of all time. However, over the years, the Proteas suffered massive heartbreaks, and the South African greats could never get their hands on the trophy.

There were many near misses, and despite being one of the most consistent teams, they came up short on multiple occasions. This led to the 'chokers' tag being associated with the Proteas.

Last year as well, South Africa were handed a big heartbreak when they lost the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final against India from a winning position. However, Temba Bavuma's team made sure to bury the 'chokers' tag by beating the dominant Team Australia in the final of the ICC World Test Championship.

South Africa made history on June 14, 2025, as they ended the ICC trophy drought and clinched a title by defeating the defending champions at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London.

Of course, the tag of us being chokers, that came about this morning - Temba Bavuma

On the fourth and final day of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 Final, when the Proteas needed 69 runs to win with Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram in the middle, the Aussies came up with a 'chokers' sledge.

Temba Bavuma said that playing against Australia has been quite different in the last few years, with things not being very heated, but during the WTC Final, they were targeted by Pat Cummins & Co.

"While we were batting, we could hear the Aussies using that dreaded word, choke," South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma told BBC Test Match Special.

"Playing against Australia is a bit different in the last couple of years. They're not as vocal out on the field. They're still aggressive through their body language, through obviously their skill, but there's not a lot of chatter," he said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

"Of course, the tag of us being chokers, that came about this morning. One of their players threw out the fact that we could lose our eight wickets in less than 60 runs. I definitely heard that. Aiden kept using the [words] lock in after every over, let's keep locking in. Let's give them nothing. So yeah, not a lot of chatter, just one or two things that were, that were said."

It would be great to not have to hear it again - Aiden Markram

The hero of the WTC Final 2025, Aiden Markram, who played one of the greatest Test innings in history for South Africa, said that he doesn't want to hear the use of the word 'chokers' for the Proteas ever again. He said:

"It would be great to not have to hear it again, that's for sure. In terms of it motivating you, I mean, there's always going to be external things that can motivate you, but it's not your sole purpose for playing.

"To have got the job done and to literally have got the job done and to get rid of that is quite a big thing for this team."