It has been 53 days since the heart-wrenching finale of the T20 World Cup, and South African cricketer Aiden Markram is slowly but surely finding his footing again. Speaking at a press conference in Guyana on Tuesday, Markram opened up about the emotional toll of the loss. “I should give it as much time as it needs,” he remarked. “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 dramatic events of June 29 at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. On that fateful day, South Africa’s men’s cricket team made history by reaching their first-ever senior World Cup final. However, their euphoria quickly turned to despair as they lost to India by a narrow margin of seven runs. The loss marked a painful chapter for the team, given their history of nearly winning matches by slim margins. Out of 184 T20Is, South Africa had won and lost six by the same margin and also had 21 outcomes decided by fewer runs. Yet, this loss felt uniquely devastating.
Reflecting on the period since that loss, Markram shared, “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. 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.”
Now, the South Africans have returned to the Caribbean for a three-match T20I series against the West Indies, scheduled from Friday to Tuesday in Tarouba, Trinidad. However, not all members of the World Cup final XI are part of this squad. Among those present are Markram, Reeza Hendricks, and Tristan Stubbs. Markram and Stubbs recently participated in a Test series against the Windies, which South Africa won 1-0 under the captaincy of Temba Bavuma, who also leads the ODI side.
As the captain of South Africa’s T20I team, Markram faces the unique challenge of transitioning between different roles within the squad. When asked about this, he was pragmatic.
. “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. 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.”
In the upcoming series in Tarouba, Markram will be hoping for a better outcome than their last experience there during the T20 World Cup. The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently labeled the pitch in Tarouba as “unsatisfactory,” citing chronically inconsistent bounce. It was on this very pitch that South Africa managed to dismiss Afghanistan for just 56 runs on their way to a nine-wicket victory in the semifinal. The inconsistency of the pitch was evident to the teams batting first, who were all bowled out for scores ranging between 40 to 95 in four of the five games played at the ground during the tournament. The only outlier was a match where West Indies, after a dismal start of 30/5, recovered to post a total of 149/9 against New Zealand.
Conditions appeared more favorable in a recent tour match South Africa played against a West Indies Championship XI in Tarouba before the Tests. In that game, both teams recorded impressive totals of 397 and 408/9, featuring two centuries and six 50s, three of which surpassed 70 runs. Markram shone brightly, scoring 82 runs off 107 balls, with 56 of those runs coming from boundaries.
Despite a more favorable recent experience, the memories of June 29 will continue to linger. Even a 3-0 series win against the West Indies in the coming days might not entirely soften the blow of that World Cup defeat. However, part of moving forward is believing that this won’t be their last chance in a final and that brighter days lie ahead.
In conclusion, Aiden Markram and the South African team are taking steps towards healing and redemption. The upcoming series in the Caribbean offers them a chance to showcase their resilience and cricketing prowess. Whether they succeed in erasing the sting of their World Cup loss remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Markram’s leadership and the team’s resolve will be pivotal in scripting their path forward.