Markram Enters The List: Batting Performances Which Stole The Show In WTC 2023-25

Markram scored brilliant hundred in WTC final [Source: AP Photo]

The World Test Championship (WTC) final came to an end with the South African side ending their trophy drought of 27 years. The side defeated the seemingly invincible, Australia and won their second-ever ICC title as they remained unbeaten under the leadership of Temba Bavuma.

This WTC cycle had its ups and downs with several high-profile retirements, but at the same time, it also had its fair share of great performances on the field which stole the show. There were batting performances which mesmerised the fans. Here are the top 5 batting performances of the WTC cycle 2023-25.

Criteria: What the situation was, plus the playing conditions under which runs were scored.

5) KL Rahul - 101 vs South Africa

KL Rahul at Centurion

The tour of South Africa is always a tough challenge for any batter from Asia but time and again, KL Rahul has shown his class on bouncy wickets of the Rainbow Nation and it was no different when India toured in 2023.

At Centurion, India lost their top 3 early before Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer resurrected the innings. Once the duo departed, the onus was on KL Rahul and against a quality bowling attack on a fast and bouncy wicket, the Indian batter stood tall and scored a Boxing Day century to take India to a decent total.

4) Cameron Green - 174* Vs New Zealand

Green had a disappointing WTC final against South Africa, but his knock Vs the Kiwis is one of the key reasons as to why the Kangaroos played the WTC finale. The Aussies toured New Zealand on the back of an embarrassing defeat at the Gabba, and they needed to turn things around.

Against a string bowling unit, Australia were 65/2 when Green walked into bat and turned the tables. He remained unfazed and remained unbeaten at 174 on a green top which proved to be a challenge for both the sides as none of the other batters could perform.

3) Yashasvi Jaiswal - 161 vs Australia

Jaiswal 161 Vs Australia

Your first Australian tour and you get dismissed for a duck in the first innings. How do you respond then? By smashing the Aussies in the next innings. This is exactly what Yashasvi Jaiswal produced in the second innings of the Perth Test.

Perth provides extra bounce and a challenge for the batters and with the game still in the balance at the start of second innings, India needed a miracle and Jaiswal provided it as he counter-attacked the Australian bowlers and smacked a brilliant 161 off 297 balls to silence his critics and more importantly, helped India take a lead.

2) Ollie Pope - 196 Vs India

Pope 196 runs Vs India

Pope would have been the undisputed choice for the best knock of the WTC cycle, but the player at number 1 spot deserves it a bit more. Just like Asian teams find away tours tough, the foreign players tend to struggle when it comes to adjusting to Indian conditions. In the Hyderabad Test match, India took a lead of 190 runs and things looked gloomy for England, until Pope stepped up.

On a typical spinning track of India, Pope brought out sweeps and reverse sweeps to counter the Indian spinners and smashed the knock of the WTC cycle as he posted 196 runs laced with 21 boundaries. His innings helped England take a healthy lead, thus beating India comprehensively.

1) Aiden Markram - 136 Vs Australia

Markram scored 136 in WTC final

A knock for the ages for South African batter, Aiden Markram. WTC final, high pressure game and chasing an improbable 282 runs to win. Markram lost his opening partner, Ryan Rickelton cheaply but then he stepped up and took the game away from the Aussie team. Alongside captain Temba Bavuma, Markram forged a crucial partnership as he himself smacked 136 and helped the Proteas win their first ICC trophy in 27 years.

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