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If South Africa go on to draw the mega WTC final contest, then it would be considered a daring act as clearly, despite having in-form players on their side, their competitors are a heck of a mighty lot. Names like Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Travis Head and Mitch Starc are icons of the game at present.
But if South Africa are able to beat the same set of talents, then definitely, their critics would 'choke' themselves out having blurted all sorts of nonsensical things about a cricketing unit that one conveniently forgets has been the most stand out improved side in the last 18 to 24 months.
Even their women's team made it to the final of the recent T20 World Cup and the men made it to the final of the T20 World Cup, held in the Caribbean which they all but won, missing out closely.
Having said that, it is the Test fold in which the Proteas men's team form the unshakable line-up, one that is as exuberant as it is classy and compact. With several match-winning talents by their side and some who have played the sport for a while now, including Bavuma, Rabada and Markram, can South Africa see in them their leading lights in the big WTC contest?
But more importantly, just how did the resurgent South Africa reach the all-important WTC final?
Test series vs India (Drew by a margin of 1-1)
The Test series versus India was such a fantastic and mouth-watering prospect for fans that at some point, one wondered, whether just two games were enough and should, therefore, the boards on either side, have thought of having maybe a Test match more?
The series ended with South Africa valiantly defending up against the mighty Indians on home turf and the key heroes in the contests here were Jasprit Bumrah, his most noted performance being the 6 for 61 (Cape Town) and the retiring Dean Elgar whose daddy hundred of 185 at Centurion helped his team win by an innings and 32 runs.
Test series vs New Zealand (Lost 0-2 to the Kiwis)
Losing out 2-nil to the BlackCaps, with one Test lost each at Mount Maunganui and Hamilton, proved to be the nadir for South Africa in their current WTC cycle, but it would, as one could see, also teach them valuable lessons on how to comeback and fight hard.
It would be contests where the Proteas saw the blazing talent of someone called Rachin Ravindra, who made a dogged double century, reaching a fine score in just his seventh Test innings.
In the same contest, the Protea bowling was blunted by the ever-classy and calm-headed Kane Williamson.
Test series vs West Indies (Won by a margin of 1-0)
It's always fascinating to see two of world cricket's extremely talented teams locking horns against each other in the longest format. But while the days of Brian Lara and Shiv Chanderpaul back in the day during the duo's intense contests against Donald, Pollock and Kallis are long over, there still remain potent talents on either side that entertain massively in cricket's longest form.
Against the West Indies, this time around, South Africa seemed a touch comfortable and raring to go as if to plan a rampage was always their idea.
After the opening contest at Trinidad ended in a closely-fought draw, thanks to Bavuma and the young Windies gun batter Athanaze's timely knocks, the second game at Guyana got South Africa smiling.
In a contest where runs were hard to come by, especially when Shamar Joseph scuttled out South Africa cheaply in their first inning, there was destruction headed the hosts' way in the form of disciplined, well-conceived bowling that saw Windies bundled out for just 144.
Then, Markram and Verreynne played composed knocks, both of whom struck fifties to further capitalise their chances against a Windies team that was already on the backfoot. In the end, despite Motie and Da Silva forming an unexpected lower order fighting stand of 77, it wasn't going to be enough to save the West Indies from South Africa's mercurial bowling arsenal. This is where the 'Maharaja' of spinners in world cricket tore through the insipid Windies lower order. But that seventh wicket fighting stand championed a fight that home fans in the Caribbean appreciated.
Test series vs Bangladesh (Won by a margin of 2-0)
Winning both Tests for the first time ever in Bangladesh, with one win in Chattogram and the other in Mirpur, was something that for Proteas fans, was some dream scenario.
Instead what became real was something to savour and for the ages as under the brave and astute leadership of Aiden Markram, the Proteas overcame a tricky opponent.
The games would be most known for a precious rearguard action forged by Kyle Verreynne and the classy Wiaan Mulder.
Rabada's classic 6-for in Mirpur also paved way for the visitors' famed triumph.
Test series vs Sri Lanka (Won by a margin of 2-0)
The Proteas didn't just win this series; they thrashed their opponents who came calling perhaps unsuspecting the level of competitiveness and intensity they'd be up against.
In Durban, the hosts grounded Sri Lanka, winning the contest by a huge margin of 233 runs. The Test match would be most known for the twin centuries by captain Bavuma, and Tristan Stubbs and later, Jansen running through a Sri Lankan line up that played perhaps the most baffling sorts of ill timed and poor strokes.
The next game, resulting in another win for SA, in Gqeberha, saw Wiaan Mulder out with Ryan Rickelton making it to the team and he made it count comprehensively.
At St. George's Park, the dashing batter would make a cautious, methodical century, a first for him in Test whites and later, would be helped by disciplined fast bowling that led to a famous win.
The least-talked-about cricketer from South Africa, Dane Paterson proved to be the undoing of Sri Lanka.
Test series vs Pakistan (Won by a margin of 2-0)
This was a fantastic series for the Protea men's team wherein they thrashed Pakistan by a great margin of 2-0, playing a couple of Tests at home.
The series resulted in decisive victories in Cape Town (10 wickets), and before that, Centurion (2 wickets) in which names like Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Aiden Markram rose through to the occasion and lifted the hosts.
The game in Cape Town, in particular, would be remembered for Rickelton scoring a Test double as opener, a first since Graeme Smith back in the day. Ditto for captain Bavuma, who led by an example and controlled the proceedings calmly by scoring a century. Even young batter-keeper Kyle Verreynne scored a first century at home during this series.
