London [UK], June 14 : South African spinner Keshav Maharaj praised opener Aiden Markram as a “big-match player” after his unbeaten century in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 against Australia at Lord’s. Markram’s performance helped South Africa edge closer to a long-awaited ICC title.
Markram’s 102* off 159 balls not only steered the Proteas into a commanding position but also etched his name in history as the first South African batter to score a century in an ICC tournament final. He joins the elite list of Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, and David Miller — all of whom scored tons in previous ICC knockout matches.
Speaking to ICC Digital after Day 3, Maharaj highlighted the mindset shift he noticed in Markram after his first-innings failure.
“I saw a different sort of desire and focus in Aiden’s eyes today. He clearly wanted to make amends for his first-innings mistake,” Maharaj said.
“Kudos to him for turning things around. He’s a big-match player — and big players rise when it matters most. Scoring a Test hundred in a final at Lord’s, against a side like Australia — who rarely lose finals — is just the perfect moment,” he added.
Maharaj also commended captain Temba Bavuma, who was unbeaten on 65 at stumps, for showing grit while battling a hamstring injury during the duo’s crucial 143-run partnership.
“Temba had a niggle, but he’s a warrior. It was inspiring to see how he and Aiden communicated, especially during the tea break — strategizing around Temba’s limited mobility and Aiden’s willingness to adapt to the situation,” Maharaj noted.
With just 69 runs needed and eight wickets in hand, South Africa is on the verge of winning their first ICC title since 1998 — a moment that would break their long-standing championship drought.