“No More Excuses” – Rabada Fires Back as South Africa Conquers the WTC Final

Let’s set the record straight: Kagiso Rabada heard the noise. And after South Africa’s momentous five-wicket win over Australia in the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s in 2025, he made sure he made noise. There had been months of critics saying the Proteas’ journey to the WTC was meaningless because they hadn’t competed against anything “strong.” But when you come out and silence a world-class Aussie side after Rabada just got 9 wickets and Aiden Markram dropped a match-winning 136, then there is no bigger “I told you so.”

The Underdog Narrative Was Getting Old

For whatever reason, fans were not supporting South Africa’s World Test Championship (WTC) campaign. It could be that South Africa had a relatively favorable fixture list, or perhaps the ghosts of previous heartbreaks from the ICC had lingered too loudly. But in Rabada’s words, all of that was “rubbish” – and honestly, he has a case.

This side didn’t just stumble upon the final; they earned it by producing one decent Test after another, with a clear plan in place and belief in their system. Fair enough, they didn’t play India or England in a long series during this cycle. But, is that their fault? You can only beat what’s in front of you, and in the final, Australia’s defending champions, they beat.

Rabada’s figures of 9/110 in the match weren’t just skill – they were a statement. The man showed up to the Lords with something to prove, and left with a winner’s medal and a mountain of doubters lying beneath it.

Also read:- Why the ICC’s New Two-Ball Rule in ODIs Could Be a Game-Changer

Markram’s Redemption Story Deserves Its Own Movie

There is a story with Aiden Markram. He didn’t score in the first innings. Did he feel pressure? You bet he did. Australia was on top. The pitch was challenging. When pressure knocked, Markram answered the door with fireworks instead of fear.

His 136 in the second innings was more than a knock – it was an absolute rescue mission. From the shots he played to how he managed his temperament, it was textbook on how to build a match-winning Test innings under pressure. This was not the instinctive Markram that we are used to seeing; the one who plays without fear. This was deliberate, courageous, and candid. It is composed of cool, which South Africa has been waiting and trying to see at an ICC event for a long time.

A Trophy, a Statement, and a Turning Point

This wasn’t merely a victory – it was a full circle moment for South African cricket. For a long time, the Proteas have been branded as “chokers,” always flattering to deceive at the biggest moments of the global game. That narrative ends here.

To beat Australia on the Lord’s stage in a WTC final, well, that’s as “real” as it gets. Rabada, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, and Gerald Coetzee formed a bowling unit that showed how to continually get the best out of elite batting. Bavuma didn’t shout—he whispered direction with steel in his silence, while Verreynne pulled off a silent heist, stealing the win with clinical calm.

And the supporters? Lord’s felt like a little Cape Town, with waving South African flags and resounding cheers throughout the four days. The energy, the pride, the hunger – it all came together in a beautiful concoction.

So now the question must be asked: With this monkey finally off their back, is this the start of a golden period for South African cricket? Or was this JUST the one, perfect storm? Either way, one thing is for sure – the rest of the world will be watching now.