He's in the running for the player of the final. When Bavuma turned to Markram's part-time off-spin — three wickets in 45 previous tests — he had an outsized impact on the match.

Markram was in charge when the South Africa U-19 won the age-group World Cup in 2014 and last year, when the senior side got to the final of the T20 World Cup in Barbados.

Until this match, Markram was the only South Africa captain to win a World Cup, the under-19 version in 2014. His test career has roller-coastered but he was recalled by Conrad and backed by Bavuma.

Aiden Markram scored an impressive match-winning knock of 136 runs off 207 deliveries in the second innings of the 2025 WTC final at the Lord’s in London, to help South Africa win the title.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, who was Markram's batting partner in South Africa's pursuit to end their 27-year-long wait for an ICC title, was the first to hug Markram for his 8th Test century.

On Friday, South Africa needed someone to hang tough and score big when it started a daunting chase of 282 to win the final, and Markram responded on a flat, slow pitch with an unbeaten 102.

South Africa's Aiden Markram acknowledges the applause from the crowd as he walks off the field after losing his wicket on day four of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and ...

Markram was in charge when the South Africa U-19 won the age-group World Cup in 2014and last year, when the senior side got to the final of the T20 World Cupin Barbados.

He's in the running for the player of the final. When Bavuma turned to Markram's part-time off-spin — three wickets in 45 previous tests — he had an outsized impact on the match.

“He played (the WTC final) in true Aiden fashion.” Markram was controlled and chanceless in a stay of six hours, 23 minutes on a flat pitch. “It will rank up there as number one,” he said.