Mumbai: The "Chokers" tag has long been associated with the South African cricket team, particularly in a high-pressure tournament. This label stems from several instances where South Africa fell short in crucial matches, often in World Cup tournaments. South Africa's 27-year wait for a major ICC title has now finally come to an end, marking a historic moment for the team and its passionate fans.

The "Chokers" tag attached to the Pratoeas is believed to have originated in the 1990s, particularly after the 1992 World Cup semi-final. In this match, South Africa's target was revised because of rain, and they were eliminated due to a miscalculation. This incident marked the beginning of the perception that South Africa lacked the mettle to perform under pressure, and the tag stuck with them ever since.

Another instance that contributed to this attribution was the 1999 World Cup semi-final, where South Africa tied with Australia but was eliminated due to an inferior net run rate. The team was in a strong position, requiring just one run off the last ball, but Lance Klusener's run-out dashed their hopes.

The 2003 World Cup was another disappointment for South Africa. Chasing 268 against Sri Lanka, they needed a single run off the last ball, but Mark Boucher played a dot ball, resulting in a tie and elimination from the tournament, again due to the Duckworth-Lewis method.

South Africa's last ICC title was in 1998 when they won the inaugural edition of the Champions Trophy. On Saturday, they ended a 27-year drought for a majorr ICC title by winning the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025, defeating Australia by five wickets at Lord's.