Port Shepstone author believes Proteas will rise from the ‘choke’
The book, 'Rising From the Choke' captures the shadow of 1992 to the sunlight of 2025 in South African cricket.
From the bustling stands of Datsun Shield matches to the Benson and Hedges domestic day/night matches in 1981, and watching videos of international stars Sunil Gavaskar, Imran Khan, Viv Richards, and many others, cricket has become a lifelong passion for Sunil Lautan of Port Shepstone.
South Africa celebrated iconic victories such as the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the 1996 AFCON title, and the 1998 ICC Champions Trophy.
However, the 1998 win marked the end of a golden era for SA cricket and the Proteas.
For nearly three decades, the Proteas were known by one painful label: ‘Chokers’. Their repeated, agonising failures in crucial semi-finals and finals inspired Lautan to chronicle their long, frustrating journey.
“Rising from the Choke” is a definitive story of that pressure cooker, culminating in the team’s historic major world title on June 14, 2025 – a victory that finally shattered the curse.
Lautan’s book captures that emotional depth of the team’s redemption and asks the essential question. “Is this hard-won triumph the beginning of lasting glory for the nation?”
“The title, ‘Rising from the Choke’ is provocative, especially for South Africans. The word ‘choke’ has haunted South African sport – specifically our cricket team – for decades. But as a teacher who has worked around the world, I realised that ‘choking’ isn’t just about sports it’s a metaphor for those moments in life where pressure paralyses us. I wanted to write something that acknowledged that pain, but focused on the ‘rising’ part – about finding the mental strength to move past our biggest failures,” said Lautan.
Lautan has taught in South Africa, England, China, and Vietnam and thus has brought international influence in the book. “Seeing different cultures deal with adversity showed me that the fear of failure is universal. However, the South African spirit is unique. We have a specific kind of ‘grit.’ My time abroad allowed me to look back at our national narrative with a fresh perspective and see that our ‘chokes’ were often just stepping stones to a greater resilience.”
With South Africa finally winning the World Test Championships in 2025 and ‘breaking the drought’ Sunil feels his book is a prophecy come true. “It feels like the perfect closing chapter. For years, we focused on the heartbreak of 1992, 1999 and 2015. By winning at Lord’s, the Proteas proved exactly what I argue in the book; that a ‘choke’ is not a permanent label. It’s a temporary state that can be overcome with the right mindset and persistence,” added Lautan.
While cricket is the backdrop, the heart of the book is about the human condition. “Whether you’re a student facing exams, a professional in a high-pressure job, or someone navigating personal loss, Lautan believes that everyone faces moments where they feel they might ‘choke.’ So this book is for anyone looking for the roadmap to rise again.”
Rising from the Choke is a true story of South African cricket and is now available on AmazonSA.
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