It’s been 53 days since the dramatic final of the T20 World Cup, and Aiden Markram is slowly coming to terms with the experience. “I should give it as much time as it needs,” he said during a press conference from Guyana on Tuesday. “It was a tough one to swallow at the time. Definitely since then till now, it’s got a bit better to handle; to deal with and to process and put to bed.”
Markram was referring to the momentous events of June 29 at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. It was a historic day for South Africa’s men’s cricket team as they stepped onto the field for a World Cup final for the first time. The day ended in heartbreak as they narrowly lost to India by seven runs in a nail-biting finish. The South Africans were deeply affected. This was their closest chance at a World Cup victory, and the sting was unlike any other defeat.
“Luckily I was able to take some time to get away from the game, get away from cricket conversations that would spark the discussion once again,” reflected Markram. “It was nice to get away from that and to reset. Each individual processes it pretty much to themselves. Probably the most important thing is making sure you’re at peace with how it all ended. So that you can move on and move forward.”
The South African cricketers are now back in the Caribbean to play three T20Is against the West Indies in Tarouba, Trinidad, from Friday to Tuesday. However, only a few of them were part of the World Cup final. Among them are Markram, Reeza Hendricks, and Tristan Stubbs. Both Markram and Stubbs recently participated in a Test series against the Windies, which South Africa clinched 1-0 under the leadership of Temba Bavuma, also the ODI captain.
Markram, serving as South Africa’s T20I captain, spoke about the challenges and nuances of moving between ranks and leadership roles.
. “It’s not a hell of a big deal for me. The decision-makers, especially from a white-ball point of view, remain consistent. That allows for continuity in the team,” he explained.
“Faces will change and squads will change, but it’s important that we keep driving a consistent message to the guys and making sure that they feel backed as players. And that whatever they bring to the table is good enough for us as a team. So, it’s not too complicated. You take on whatever you get given and you try to make the absolute best of it and see where it gets you.”
As they prepare for the series in Tarouba, Markram hopes for more favorable conditions than the ones experienced during the T20 World Cup. On Tuesday, the ICC labeled the Tarouba pitch as “unsatisfactory” due to its chronically inconsistent bounce. This was the same pitch where South Africa bowled out Afghanistan for 56, securing a nine-wicket win in the semifinal. It was a surface on which teams batting first were routinely bowled out between scores of 40 to 95 in four of five games during the tournament. The only exception was the West Indies, who recovered from a perilous 30/5 against New Zealand to post a total of 149/9.
The conditions were notably better during a tour match against a West Indies Championship XI in Tarouba before the Test series. In this match, both teams amassed totals of 397 and 408/9, with two centuries and six half-centuries, three of which were more than 70 runs. Markram himself shone, scoring 82 off 107 balls, with 56 of those runs coming from boundaries.
That performance would have been a happy moment for Markram, contrasting starkly with the emotions of June 29. Even if they manage a 3-0 series sweep in the upcoming matches, it won’t fully erase the heartbreak of the World Cup final. However, moving forward requires the belief that this won’t be their only shot at a grand finale. For Markram, the focus is on the future and ensuring that happier, more successful days lie ahead.