It has been 53 days since the high-stakes drama unfolded in Bridgetown, Barbados. How is Aiden Markram, the South African cricketer, coping with the aftermath of the T20 World Cup final? In a press conference held in Guyana on Tuesday, Markram openly discussed his journey of dealing with the somber experience. “I should give it as much time as it needs,” he stated. “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.”
Reflecting back, Markram recounted the events of June 29 at Kensington Oval, an evening etched painfully in the annals of South African cricket history. South Africa’s men’s team reached their first-ever senior World Cup final only to meet a heartbreaking defeat by India, who clinched the win by a meager seven runs. The South Africans had previously been involved in closely fought T20Is, winning and losing six out of 184 matches by the same margin, even tying one. But this loss bore a different, much heavier weight.
“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, reflecting on the need for a mental break. “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 back in the Caribbean, Markram and his team are gearing up for a three-match T20I series against the West Indies in Tarouba, Trinidad, from Friday to Tuesday. The South African squad has seen changes, with only Markram, Reeza Hendricks, and Tristan Stubbs being part of the World Cup final XI. Markram and Stubbs also participated in a recent Test series against the Windies, which South Africa won 1-0 under the leadership of Temba Bavuma, who also captains the ODI side.
Markram serves as South Africa’s T20I captain and shared his thoughts on transitioning between 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. 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.”
Markram is hopeful for better fortunes in the upcoming series in Tarouba. He remains cognizant of the challenging pitch conditions that previously plagued the venue. On Tuesday, the ICC labelled the Tarouba pitch as “unsatisfactory,” a rating just above the lowest possible grade, citing issues with chronic inconsistency in bounce. During the T20 World Cup semifinal at this venue, South Africa dismissed Afghanistan for just 56 runs, en route to a nine-wicket victory. Notably, four out of five games played at Tarouba during the tournament saw teams batting first bowled out between 40 to 95 runs. In an outlier match, West Indies rebounded from a precarious 30/5 to post a total of 149/9 against New Zealand.
In contrast, the tour match preceding the Test series against a West Indies Championship XI offered more favorable conditions. The game featured two centuries and six half-centuries, three of which exceeded 70 runs, resulting in team totals of 397 and 408/9. Markram himself contributed significantly, scoring 82 off 107 balls, with 56 of his runs coming through boundaries.
That performance surely marked a happier day for Markram compared to June 29. While a potential 3-0 victory in the coming days wouldn’t completely erase the sting of that fateful T20 World Cup final, it does contribute to the healing process. For Markram, part of moving on is rooted in the belief that this won’t be his only final, and that there are indeed happier days ahead.