Maharaj really believes that South Africa deserves to win the 2025 World Test Championship final over Australia at Lord’s because they have gone above the expectations of people in terms of the ‘phenomenal’ consistency they have had.
They started the year 2024 with a home Test loss to India and ended the year by conceding an away series to New Zealand, where South Africa sent a second-string side. But this was followed by a turnaround with a draw against the West Indies in Trinidad. In the next seven Tests, the Proteas recorded seven victories-all against the Windies, followed by Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
“In looking at our Test unit, not many would have consummated their dreams at letting the team know that we are to give potential by way of the finals, but outside of doing phenomenal work from the consistency point of view, from a cricket perspective,” Maharaj told PTI.
“The togetherness you would find on the field and the camaraderie and spirit you see within the dressing room propelled us to get there. Hopefully, this is our year, and we will go one better than we have done previously and raise a very prestigious title in the Test format,” he added. “It’s the hardest format of the game. It is physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging. As a unit, we’ve played the game as well that we deserve to go and raise a trophy.”
With its narrow victory in the first home Test against Pakistan, South Africa sealed the WTC Final berth. This was followed by completing a series with another 10-wicket win in the next match.
Maharaj has been the one who has pinned South Africa’s hopes in this WTC for the time being: 40 wickets in 13 innings, with an average of 20.57. Only Kagiso Rabada (47 in 20 innings) has collected more scalps than the left-arm spinner in the two-year period.
Rabada had also fanned the fire before the big final with his comments after the second Test.
“It’s actually quite some distance away, but a big occasion like the World Test Championship final gets you up for it,” Rabada told SuperSport. “South Africa versus Australia has always been an intense rivalry because we play cricket quite similarly. We play hard – and they’re going to come hard at us, and we know that. But we also know how to beat them.”