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

Published - 14 Jun 2025, 06:02 PM | Updated - 14 Jun 2025, 06:05 PM

Keshav Maharaj Cries Like A Kid After WTC Final Win

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The 35-year-old South Africa National Cricket Team premier spinner Keshav Maharaj broke down in tears after the Proteas ended a 27-year wait for the International Cricket Council (ICC) trophy.

Keshav Maharaj said that it was a privilege and honor for him to be a part of the South African team that lifted the coveted ICC World Test Championship title.

Also Read: "Lord Bavuma, It’s time for Africa": Twitter reacts as South Africa beat Australia to win WTC Final 2025

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South Africa beat Australia by 5 wickets

South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first in the match. The Kagiso Rabada-led bowling unit made the most of the overcast conditions and bowled out Australia for 212 in 56.4 overs.

With the bat, however, South Africa had a horrible outing as they were unable to deal with the threat of the Australian pace trio and got bundled for 138 in 57.1 overs.

In the third innings of the match, the Proteas' bowling unit once again started off brilliantly and restricted the star batters of the Australian team from scoring.

They reduced the Aussies to 73/7 before Mitchell Starc staged a comeback for his side and took his team to a score of 207 runs, setting up a target of 282 runs for South Africa.

Chasing the target, Aiden Markram played a knock for the ages and slammed 136 runs to take the Proteas closer to the win. Also, skipper Temba Bavuma played a stunning knock of 66 runs and South Africa completed the run-chase in 83.4 overs to win by 5 wickets.

I think tears won't even describe what we feel right now - Keshav Maharaj

Keshav Maharaj interacted with the legendary South Africa skipper Graeme Smith just after the match, and he was in absolute tears. He said:

"It's special, Graeme. I think tears won't even describe what we feel right now. It's just a privilege and honour to be able to lift the coveted title and to be a part of it for everyone else. And everyone back home is super special for us and the boys. And it's just what our country's about, to see the unity over the last five days and it's super special and we're very grateful as a team, as a nation and as a proud country."

I think without the crowd here today, we probably wouldn't be in this position - Keshav Maharaj

Keshav Maharaj also thanked the supporters of the South African team, who came to Lord's to cheer up the team. He said:

"100 percent. I think without the crowd here today, we probably wouldn't be in this position over the last four days. So we're very grateful and thankful to everyone that's here and from abroad that's supporting us. Thank you very much."

When asked whether he was thinking about coming in the middle and hitting the winning runs, the emotional Keshav Maharaj said:

"Obviously I didn't think that far ahead, but there was an opportunity that could have posed itself. But I think the emotions would have probably spurred me into the right direction."

In the end, Keshav Maharaj once again expressed his love for the supporters of the Proteas and said that the ICC World Test Championship triumph is a stepping stone for greater things to come. He stated:

"Just like I said, thank you to everyone that's here, back home, to everyone around the world that's been supporting us through adversity. We've stood strong as a team and here we are today to raise the trophy that's eluded us for a number of years. But we honour those before us, to those that are here and to those that have come. We love you, appreciate you and continue supporting us. We're doing good things as a team and as a country and may this just be the stepping stone of greater things to come."