We now have the new World Champion in the longest format of cricket. South Africa has been crowned the new World Test Champions by defeating Australia at Lord’s cricket ground by 5 wickets. The South Africans have ended their 27-year drought of not winning an ICC title by claiming a convincing victory of the Aussies, and Australia’s streak of winning an ICC final have ended by Temba and Co. after 15 years. But this does not mean that South Africa has lost the maximum number of ICC finals. Surprisingly, the team that holds that top position at the ICC podium and ODI and T20, India, has faced the maximum defeats after qualifying for any ICC finals.
India has faced setbacks 7 times in ICC finals, the last of which we witnessed in a heartbreaking defeat against Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup that was hosted by India. Meanwhile, Australia, the former World Test Champions, have lost 4 ICC finals while South Africa have faced only 1 ICC finals defeat that was in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
| Rank | Team | Flag | ICC Finals Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 🇮🇳 | 7 |
| 2 | England | 🏴 | 6 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 🇳🇿 | 5 |
| 4 | Australia | 🇦🇺 | 4 |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 🇱🇰 | 4 |
| 6 | Pakistan | 🇵🇰 | 3 |
| 7 | West Indies | 🏝️ | 3 |
| 8 | South Africa | 🇿🇦 | 1 |
Markram And Rabada’s Heroics Help Proteas To Claim Victory
After departing on a duck in 1st innings, Aiden Markram came out to bat in the second innings with an intent to finish off the World Test Championship leg 2023-25 himself. Markram’s 136-run innings was one to be remembered by as he became the first South African to score a century in any ICC finals. He was the glue that kept the innings together. Although captain Temba Bavuma gave a good hand with the bat as well by scoring 66 runs in the 2nd innings, it was Markram’s heroics that took the team towards victory. Another crucial contribution with the ball was by Proteas’ Kagiso Rabada. He managed to take a 5-wicket haul in the 1st innings, dismantling Australia’s tall batting lineup on 212 runs and 4 wickets in the 2nd innings.
