South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma expressed satisfaction after his team climbed to the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) table with a series-clinching win over Sri Lanka on December 9. Bavuma acknowledged the significance of the victory, emphasizing that while the team would celebrate the milestone, their focus remains on maintaining momentum for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan.
The Proteas secured a commanding 109-run win in the second Test in Gqeberha, thanks to stellar performances from both bat and ball. Bavuma himself played a key role with the bat, supported by Ryan Rickelton, who registered his maiden Test century. The bowling unit, spearheaded by Keshav Maharaj’s five-wicket haul, proved too strong for Dhananjaya de Silva-led Sri Lanka, whose spirited efforts ultimately fell short. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Bavuma praised his team’s hard-fought victory but reiterated the importance of staying grounded as they prepare for their next challenge against Pakistan, starting from December 26.
“I think we’re doing well as a team, no.1 in the WTC table as of now. I don’t know what’ll happen in the future, but we’ll celebrate today. In a couple of weeks, we’ve Pakistan coming up. We’ll have to keep our focus on that and continue on our journey,”
With this series win, South Africa stands just one victory away from securing a spot in the WTC Final at Lord’s. Their next challenge comes in the form of a two-match Test series against Pakistan, starting December 26. Following the Proteas, Australia and India occupied the second and third positions on the WTC table, respectively, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the tournament.
South Africa’s ascent to the top has increased the pressure on both India and Australia. For India, the equation is simple yet daunting: they must win all three remaining matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to secure direct qualification. With the series tied 1-1, India cannot afford another loss. Even a 3–2 series win would force them to rely on Sri Lanka to defeat Australia 2-0 in their home series next year.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s position as firm favourites means only one of India or Australia will be able to join them in the final, provided the Proteas claim a victory against Pakistan.
