It’s been 53 days since that fateful night, and the question on everyone’s mind is: How is Aiden Markram holding up? “I should give it as much time as it needs,” he told 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 dramatic events of June 29 at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados—an evening that has been etched into South African cricket history. On that day, South Africa’s men’s team journeyed into uncharted territory by reaching their first-ever senior World Cup final. However, the joy of that milestone turned into heartbreak as they experienced the agony of losing the decider to India.
The T20 World Cup final was a nail-biter, ending with a narrow seven-run victory for India. For the South Africans, who have had their fair share of close games—winning and losing six of their other 184 T20Is by the same margin and 21 by fewer runs—this loss felt particularly bitter. They had even tied one match before, but none of those came close to the emotional toll of a World Cup final 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,” Markram said. “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.”
Markram and his team are back in the Caribbean to play three T20Is against the West Indies in Tarouba, Trinidad, from Friday to Tuesday. However, the squad looks quite different this time. Among the team members who were part of the World Cup final XI, only Markram, Reeza Hendricks, and Tristan Stubbs are in the current lineup. Markram and Stubbs recently 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 side.
As the T20I captain, Markram faces the unique challenge of transitioning between being a team member and a leader. What’s it like for him to handle this dual role? “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.”
Markram emphasizes the importance of a stable core of leadership within 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.”
As the South African team gears up for their series in Tarouba, Markram hopes for a better outcome than during the T20 World Cup. The ICC recently labeled the pitch at Tarouba “unsatisfactory”—the second-lowest rating—citing chronically inconsistent bounce. It was on this pitch that South Africa dismissed Afghanistan for just 56 runs on their way to a nine-wicket win in the semifinal. Teams batting first at the ground during the tournament were often bowled out between the range of 40 to 95 runs. In one other instance, the West Indies were 30/5 against New Zealand before managing a recovery to 149/9.
Conditions were notably better during a tour match the South Africans played against a West Indies Championship XI in Tarouba before the Test series. In that match, two centuries and six half-centuries were scored, with teams posting totals of 397 and 408/9. Markram himself scored an impressive 82 off 107 balls, with 56 of those runs coming from boundaries.
That match was undoubtedly a more pleasant experience for Markram than the events of June 29. Even though a 3-0 series win in the coming days could lift spirits, it won’t completely erase the memory of that World Cup final loss. However, part of moving on is to believe that it won’t be their last final, and that happier days lie ahead.
As the South African team continues to rebuild and refocus, Markram’s journey serves as a testament to the resilience needed in the sport. “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,” Markram reiterated, emphasizing a path toward future successes.