"We Heard 'Choke' While Batting on Day 4" – Bavuma Opens Up on Aussie Sledging in WTC Final

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma shared that Australia tried to get in their heads on Day 3 of the WTC final, throwing around the old "chokers" label. But the Proteas didn’t let it bother them. Instead, they stayed focused and finally ended a 27-year wait for an ICC trophy, beating Pat Cummins and his team by five wickets. After the win, both Bavuma and Aiden Markram confirmed that the Aussies did try to rattle them, but it clearly didn’t work.

Fans have called South Africa ‘chokers’ for years because of their habit of falling short in big matches. Even going into what turned out to be the last day of the Test, many still thought Australia had a shot. After the win, Bavuma revealed that one of the Aussie players even said they could still lose, even though they needed just 69 more runs on Day 4 with 8 wickets left.

After their win on Saturday, Bavuma said that the Australian team had called South Africa ‘chokers’ during the first session of play. 

"Whilst we were batting, we could hear the Aussies using that dreaded word, choke. The tag of us being chokers, that came about this morning. One of their players threw out the fact we could still get bowled out. I definitely heard that." South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma told BBC Test Match Special.

"It's been years since we've overcome a final, we've been etched in history. Now we're part of something that has never been done." Bavuma added.

Travis Head’s Stunning Catch Ends Markram’s Heroic Knock

South Africa were in a strong position on Day 4 of the WTC final. Aiden Markram’s century and Temba Bavuma’s fifty on Day 3 had put them well ahead in the run chase. At the start of the day, they needed only 69 more runs to win the Test.

Bavuma (66) was the first to get out on Day 4, with Pat Cummins getting the breakthrough. Stubbs followed soon after when Mitchell Starc bowled him. Markram (136), the star of the match for South Africa, tried to see the team through but had to leave after a brilliant catch by Travis Head. In the end, it was Verreynne and Bedingham who calmly finished the chase for South Africa.

ALSO READ: RCB Released Players 2026: Five Players Likely to Be Dropped (ft. Livingstone)