(Video) Dale Steyn Couldn’t Hold Back His Tears After South Africa’s Historic WTC Triumph

Dale Steyn could not control his tears as he celebrated South Africa's first ICC title in 27 years.

(Video) Dale Steyn Couldn’t Hold Back His Tears After South Africa’s Historic WTC Triumph

Dale Steyn was moved to tears following South Africa's 2025 WTC win. (Image via ICC/X)

Ex-South African speedster Dale Steyn was overcome with emotion and could not hold back his tears, after the Proteas claimed the 2025 World Test Championship title. South Africa defeated Australia on Day 4 in the final by five wickets to claim the WTC title, marking their first major ICC title after 27 years.

South Africa made an unbelievable second innings comeback to win their maiden WTC title. Chasing a target of 282 runs, the Proteas, led by Aiden Markram’s composed knock of 136 runs off 207 deliveries, successfully got past the line with five wickets in hand. Kagiso Rabada was another important figure in the team’s victory, as he took a brilliant nine-wicket haul across both the innings, versus Australia.

The win thereafter marked a first for the South African team after 27 years. They last won the 1998 ICC Knockout Trophy (now called the Champions Trophy) under the leadership of Hansie Cronje. South Africa came the closest to winning an ICC trophy last year, when they made it to the final of the T20 World Cup. However, they lost the match to India by a margin of seven runs, failing to chase down a 177-run target.

Shifting the focus back to 2025, South Africa made to the final of the WTC after finishing first in league table. The Proteas’ maiden WTC title left many former players emotional, including 41-year-old South African bowling legend Dale Steyn. The former pacer, who retired from playing international cricket in 2021, could not hold back his tears following South African historic triumph.

Speaking on a Star Sports post-match show, a visibly emotional and speechless Steyn remarked about how incredible the win was for the South African cricket team and for the country. He exclaimed that he would don his South Africa cap after the historic win.

Dale Steyn was struggling to describe his emotions, before he fell silent for a while in the realization of the moment. He added that he might take his son out for a walk, and that life would continue to be the same for him. 

What do you do, what do you say? It’s incredible, I’m sitting at home, I’ve got my cap here, I’m extremely proud. I mean, what do you do? I’ll take my son for a walk and life will carry on.

Dale Steyn on South Africa’s WTC win (H/T: Hindustan Times)

It therefore shows how important a moment it is for South African cricket and its fans. The WTC win is special for someone like Dale Steyn, who failed to win trophies with the team despite having won several individual accolades. Steyn played 93 Test matches between 2004 and 2019, scalping 439 wickets at an average of 22.95, and is on top of the list of the highest wicket-takers in Test cricket for South Africa.

Not just Steyn, but South African spinner Keshav Maharaj was also seen in tears following the team’s WTC win. Overwhelmed with emotion, the 35-year-old stated that he had previously dreamed of winning the World Test Championship final at Lord’s before Father’s Day. 

Dale Steyn Predicts England to Beat India in Upcoming Five-Match Red-Ball Series

Ex-South African fast bowler Dale Steyn predicted India to suffer a narrow 3-2 defeat in the upcoming five-match Test series in England. The red-ball series will begin on June 20, with the first match scheduled to be played in Headingley, Leeds. 

Dale Steyn on India vs. England
Dale Steyn predicted England to triumph 3-2 against India. (via Indian Express)

Speaking ahead of the series, Steyn exclaimed that all the matches would be close encounters, with both the teams vying for a win. However, he predicted the outcome, giving a slight edge to the Three Lions over India. Thereafter, the onus will be upon the young Indian side, to turn around the predictions made by Dale Steyn and other experts about their chances.

All games will be close. I think it will be 3-2 in favour of England. There will be no run away win for any team, all five games will be very close.

Dale Steyn said on JioHotstar

Moreover, the England tour also marks the beginning of a new era for the Indian Test side, under the leadership of newly appointed skipper Shubman Gill. Also, for the first time in over a decade, India will be playing a Test match without the services of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.