Aiden Markram Shines in World Test Championship Final Against Australia

Markram's Stellar Performance on Day 3

On June 13, during the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 at Lord's, South African opener Aiden Markram played a pivotal role in the team's run chase. After the Proteas found themselves at 70/2, Markram stepped up and anchored the innings with a remarkable century, putting South Africa in a strong position to claim their first WTC title.

Markram's impressive innings of 102 runs off 159 balls included a crucial partnership of 143 runs for the second wicket with captain Temba Bavuma, who scored 65 runs off 121 balls. This collaboration helped South Africa reach a total of 213/2, needing just 69 runs to achieve the 282-run target set by the defending champions.

Historic Achievement for Markram

With this century, Aiden Markram became the first South African player to score a hundred in an ICC final and only the third player overall, following Steve Smith and Travis Head, to achieve this feat in the World Test Championship.

Virat Kohli's Prophetic Tweet

As Markram's performance garnered attention, an old tweet from Virat Kohli resurfaced on social media. Known for his aggressive batting and cricketing acumen, Kohli's tweet from March 24, 2018, where he praised Markram, went viral.

In the tweet, Kohli expressed, "Aiden Markram is a delight to watch!" This statement has gained significance as Markram has now made history with his century in the WTC Final.

Aiden Markram is a delight to watch!

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 24, 2018

Kohli's admiration for Markram stemmed from the latter's impressive performance in an ODI against Australia in 2018, where he scored 84 runs. Seven years later, Kohli's words resonate even more as Markram shines on the grand stage.

South Africa's Quest for Glory

As Day 4 commenced, South Africa resumed their batting, aiming for their first World Test Championship title. However, they faced an early setback when Temba Bavuma was dismissed for 66 runs by Pat Cummins, who caught the edge of his bat.

Markram continued to lead the charge, now partnered with Trista Stubbs, as the team inched closer to a historic victory. The hopes of the Proteas rest heavily on Markram, who is determined to guide his team to their first ICC title in the longest format of the game.

This final marks a significant moment for South Africa, as they seek to end a 27-year drought for an ICC title, the last being in 1998 when they won the Champions Trophy against West Indies.