South Africa Wins WTC, Ends 27-Year ICC Drought

South Africa ended a 27-year drought for a senior men's ICC cricket title by defeating Australia by five wickets in the 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord's. Chasing a target of 282, the Proteas were led by Aiden Markram's pivotal 136 and disciplined bowling from Kagiso Rabada, who took 5-51 in the first innings. Captain Temba Bavuma became the first South African skipper since 1998 to lift an ICC trophy, and the victory was celebrated as a unifying moment for the nation. The win comes in a year when other teams like RCB and Tottenham Hotspur also broke long-standing trophy droughts. The final reinforced Lord’s reputation as an ideal neutral venue for major cricket events, though future locations remain under discussion. This marks South Africa's second ICC title and first since the 1998 ICC Champions Trophy.