It's been 53 days since the T20 World Cup final. How is Aiden Markram coping? "I think it's important to give it the time it needs," he said during a press conference in Guyana on Tuesday. "It was difficult to accept at the time, but I've found it somewhat easier to process and move on since then."
Markram's comments centred on the dramatic events of June 29 at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, where South Africa's men's team reached a senior World Cup final for the first time in history. Unfortunately, they also faced the heartbreak of losing.
India narrowly won the tense T20 World Cup final by just seven runs, leaving the South African players devastated. They’d previously experienced a mix of wins and losses in T20 internationals, but this loss felt fundamentally different.
"I was fortunate to step away from the game and avoid conversations that might reignite the pain," Markram explained. "Taking that time to reset was beneficial. Everyone processes these experiences individually, but it's crucial to find peace with how it ended so you can move on."
The South African squad has returned to the Caribbean to face the West Indies in three T20 internationals from Friday to Tuesday. Among those travelling are only three members of the World Cup final XI: Markram, Reeza Hendricks, and Tristan Stubbs. Markram and Stubbs recently participated in a Test series against the West Indies, where South Africa claimed a 1-0 victory under the captaincy of Temba Bavuma, who also leads the ODI team.
As the T20I captain, Markram discussed the challenges of switching between leadership roles. "For me, it’s not a major issue. The key decision-makers for white-ball cricket remain consistent, which helps maintain continuity within the team,” he said. “Though the squad may evolve, it’s vital to reinforce a consistent message and ensure players feel supported, knowing their contributions are valuable. It's about adapting to the circumstances and making the most of each situation."
Markram hopes for a more favourable outcome in Tarouba this time around compared to the T20 World Cup. On Tuesday, the ICC rated the pitch "unsatisfactory"—its second-lowest ranking—after South Africa bundled Afghanistan out for 56 in the semifinal on a surface notorious for its inconsistent bounce. Several teams were bowled out for scores ranging from 40 to 95 in four of the five matches played on that ground. In another game, the West Indies struggled to 30/5 against New Zealand before eventually posting 149/9.
Conditions improved during a tour match against a West Indies Championship XI in Tarouba prior to the Test series, where South Africa scored 397 and 408/9, featuring two centuries and six half-centuries, three of which surpassed 70 runs. Markram notably contributed 82 runs off 107 balls, with 56 of those coming through boundaries.
That performance must have felt much more satisfying for Markram than the events of June 29. While a potential 3-0 series win against the West Indies may not completely erase the sting of that day, part of moving forward involves believing that there will be more finals and brighter days on the horizon.