South Africa’s Cricket Team Returns Home to Hero’s Welcome After Historic WTC Win

South Africa’s national cricket team, the Proteas, touched down at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday to a thunderous welcome, just days after clinching the ICC World Test Championship at Lord’s—ending a 27-year wait for a major ICC trophy.

Thousands of fans packed the arrivals terminal, waving flags and sounding vuvuzelas in celebration. The team emerged wearing “champions” shirts, with captain Temba Bavuma and coach Shukri Conrad holding the coveted WTC Mace. The crowd erupted in chants, hugs, and cheers, marking a moment many South Africans thought would never come.

Mzansi, you showed UP! 🫵🇿🇦💚

Thank you to every South African who came out to OR Tambo this morning to welcome our ICC World Test Championship winners home! Your love, your flags, your voices echoed through the halls.

This victory is for YOU!#WTCFinal#ProteasWTCFinal… pic.twitter.com/yTLLwwSLUy

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 18, 2025

Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie, on hand to receive the team, praised their resilience: “You represent who we are and who we aspire to be. You are true champions.” An emotional Bavuma said, “You don’t realize what you’ve done until you come home and see the people. This is bigger than cricket.”

Supporters, many of whom had followed the team’s near-misses for years, described the moment as redemptive. “They’ve suffered, and so have we,” said one fan. “Now we’re finally world champions.”

Markram's 136 and Rabada's nine wickets powered South Africa to their first ICC title since 1998, hailed as a national turning point. Already holding the Rugby World Cup, this victory further cements their status as a global sporting powerhouse.

The Proteas will face Zimbabwe later this month, but for now, the nation celebrates a restored legacy as much as the recent win.