It's been 53 days since the heartbreak. How is Aiden Markram coping? "I should allow it the time it needs," he said during a press conference from Guyana on Tuesday. "It was tough to accept at first, but as time has passed, it's become easier to handle, process, and put behind me."
Markram was referring to the events of June 29 at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, where South Africa's men's team faced an unprecedented challenge—reaching their first senior World Cup final, only to experience the sting of defeat.
India emerged victorious in the closely contested T20 World Cup final, winning by seven runs. The loss was devastating for South Africa. Although they had experienced narrow margins before—winning and losing six of their previous 184 T20Is by the same margin and 21 by fewer runs—this one hit differently.
Markram shared that taking some time away from the game was crucial for him. "I needed to distance myself from cricket and the conversations that would inevitably bring up that match again," he said. "It was refreshing to step back and reset. Each person processes such things in their own way, but the key is finding peace with how it ended so you can move on."
Now, the South African team is back in the Caribbean to face West Indies in a three-match T20I series in Tarouba, Trinidad, from Friday to Tuesday. However, only a few members from the World Cup final squad are present—Markram, Reeza Hendricks, and Tristan Stubbs. Markram and Stubbs recently participated in a Test series against the West Indies, which South Africa won 1-0 under the leadership of Temba Bavuma, who also captains the ODI team.
As South Africa's T20I captain, Markram was asked how he manages the transition between being a player and a leader. He downplayed the challenge, saying, "It’s not a big deal for me. The key decision-makers, especially in white-ball cricket, remain the same, ensuring consistency in the team. While players and squads may change, it's vital that we maintain a consistent message and make sure everyone feels supported. It’s about making the most of whatever role you’re given."
Markram hopes for a better outcome in Tarouba this time around. The ICC recently rated the pitch there as "unsatisfactory"—the second-lowest rating—due to its inconsistent bounce, which saw South Africa bowl out Afghanistan for 56 on their way to a nine-wicket win in the World Cup semi-final. During the tournament, teams batting first were dismissed for scores ranging from 40 to 95 in four of the five matches at the ground. In the fifth match, West Indies were struggling at 30/5 against New Zealand before recovering to post 149/9.
Conditions, however, were much improved during a tour match that South Africa played against a West Indies Championship XI in Tarouba before the Test series. In that match, two centuries and six fifties were scored, with teams posting totals of 397 and 408/9. Markram himself contributed 82 runs off 107 balls, with 56 of those runs coming from boundaries.
That day in Tarouba would have been a much better one for Markram than June 29. Even a 3-0 series win in the upcoming days won't fully erase the pain of that World Cup final loss. But part of moving forward is believing that it won't be your last final and that brighter days are still to come.