Legendary South African fast bowler Dale Steyn was visibly emotional after witnessing his country secure their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) title. South Africa defeated Australia by five wickets in a historic final at Lord’s on Saturday, ending a 27-year-long drought for an ICC trophy. The last time South Africa won an ICC tournament was the KnockOut Trophy in 1998—Steyn was just a teenager back then, dreaming of a moment like this.

Steyn, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the game, played 93 Tests, 125 ODIs, and 47 T20Is for South Africa but was never able to lift an ICC trophy himself. Perhaps the most painful memory of his career came in the 2015 ODI World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. On Saturday, though, those years of heartbreak turned into joy as Temba Bavuma’s men chased down 282 runs to secure the elusive title at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Speaking to Star Sports after the win, Steyn struggled to hold back his tears. “What do you do? what do you say? It's incredible. I'm sitting at home, I've got my cap here, and I'm extremely proud. I mean, what do you do? I'll take my son for a walk, and life will carry on,” he said, showing his Test cap while his voice cracked with emotion. The moment quickly went viral on social media, capturing the hearts of cricket fans worldwide.

A Triumph for the Ages

South Africa’s victory was largely built on Aiden Markram’s superb 136 and skipper Temba Bavuma’s composed 66, ensuring the Proteas had their moment of glory on the world stage. The team’s clinical execution and resilience throughout the match drew praise from all corners.

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“I felt like the support at Lord's—especially from the English fans—was in South Africa's favor too. Maybe it had a little to do with the Ashes rivalry, but that backing helped. This was a massive game, and the team played incredibly well. It was a perfectly structured Test match—when it mattered, the biggest names stood up,” Steyn said. “KG Rabada with the wickets, Pat Cummins delivering too, Mitchell Starc with wickets and runs, Aiden Markram contributing late, and Temba Bavuma steering the side home. It was a fantastic final. I'm just thrilled for South Africa—they've finally won a trophy they've been chasing for a long time.