Proteas bid farewell to the ghosts of the past and the forbidden C-word

For years, the build-up to any major ICC event featuring the Proteas followed a predictable, painful script.

Headlines would inevitably mention the "forbidden C-word," dragging the team's history of high-pressure collapses back into the spotlight and placing an immense burden on the players before a single ball had been bowled.

However, as the Proteas prepare for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, the atmosphere in Mzansi has shifted. The "choker" narrative has been replaced by quiet respect and genuine belief, born from a golden 24-month period in South African cricket.

The turnaround began with the 2024 T20 World Cup, where the Proteas reached their first short-format final. While they fell just short in Barbados, they used that heartbreak as a springboard. On June 14, 2025, South Africa finally shed the weight of history at Lord’s, defeating Australia by five wickets to be crowned World Test Champions - their first major ICC trophy since 1998.

This success hasn't been limited to the men’s game. The Proteas Women have set a relentless standard, reaching three consecutive global finals: the 2023 and 2024 T20 World Cup finals, and most recently, the 2025 ODI World Cup final in India this past November.

Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, speaking on Friday, noted the refreshing change in the public discourse.

"There hasn't been as much talk around [the choker tag]. It's more just been talk around form and well-wishes from the public," Rabada said. "There's been no references towards that choker's tag. From what I've heard, there's just been more talk about selection than anything else."

With the ghost of tournaments past finally laid to rest, Aiden Markram’s side looks ready to turn their Group D campaign into a triumphant march toward the title. The South Africans face Canada in their tournament opener at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India on Monday.