It’s been 53 days since the heart-wrenching T20 World Cup final, and everyone is wondering how South African cricketer Aiden Markram is coping. “I should give it as much time as it needs,” Markram shared during a press conference in Guyana on Tuesday. “It was tough to swallow at the time. But from then till now, it’s got a bit easier to handle, to deal with, and to process and put to bed.”
Markram was referring to the dramatic events of June 29 at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. It was an unprecedented day for South Africa’s men’s team, who had never reached a senior World Cup final before, let alone experience the agony of losing one. The final saw India clinch the T20 World Cup by a narrow margin of seven runs, leaving the South African team devastated. Although South Africa has had close T20I encounters before, winning and losing six of their previous 184 T20Is by the same margin and 21 by fewer runs, this loss felt different—more intense and difficult to digest.
“Fortunately, I managed to take some time away from the game, distance myself from cricket conversations that would bring up the topic again,” Markram added. “It was nice to get away and reset. Each person processes it in their own way. The most important thing is making sure you’re at peace with how it all ended so you can move on and move forward.”
Now, South Africa’s cricketers are back in the Caribbean to play a three-match T20I series against the West Indies in Tarouba, Trinidad, from Friday to Tuesday. However, only a handful of them—Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks, and Tristan Stubbs—were part of the World Cup final squad. Recently, Markram and Stubbs also participated in a Test series against the West Indies, which South Africa won 1-0 under the captaincy of Temba Bavuma, who also leads the ODI team.
Markram, who serves as South Africa’s T20I captain, was asked how he manages the switch between player and leader roles. “It’s not a big deal for me.
. The decision-makers, especially for white-ball cricket, remain consistent, which allows for continuity in the team,” he explained. “Faces will change, squads will change, but it’s crucial to maintain a consistent message to the players, ensuring they feel supported. Whatever they bring to the table is good enough for us as a team. It’s not too complicated. You take on whatever you get and try to make the best of it.”
Markram is hopeful that his experience in Tarouba will be an improvement over his last appearance during the T20 World Cup. Just this Tuesday, the ICC rated the Tarouba pitch “unsatisfactory” due to its inconsistent bounce—a factor that played a significant role in South Africa dismissing Afghanistan for just 56 runs en route to a nine-wicket semifinal victory. Teams batting first struggled, getting bowled out between 40 to 95 runs in four out of five games at the venue. In the other game, West Indies had a shaky start at 30/5 before recovering to a total of 149/9 against New Zealand.
Conditions were more favorable during the tour match against a West Indies Championship XI in Tarouba before the Tests. In that game, two centuries and six half-centuries were scored, with team totals reaching 397 and 408/9. Markram himself shined, scoring 82 runs off 107 balls, 56 of which came in boundaries.
That would surely have been a more joyous occasion for Markram compared to the gut-wrenching World Cup final. Even a dominating 3-0 series win against the West Indies won’t fully heal the scars from June 29. However, part of the process of moving on is believing that this won’t be the last final, and that there are brighter, happier days ahead.
Markram’s outlook remains positive and he is focusing on the future, preparing both himself and his team for the challenges ahead. While the shadow of the World Cup final loss may never completely disappear, it’s clear that Markram is determined to lead his team forward with resilience and hope.