“At the moment, it hurts a little, but it’s good that it hurts,” Aiden Markram says of his heartbreaking T20 World Cup final defeat.

Aiden Markram also considered the game’s intrinsic swings, recognising that they inevitably increased the intensity of the emotions involved. He acknowledged that it was perfectly normal for the players to experience depression and discouragement in the immediate wake of the defeat, but he also stressed that they would eventually be able to adopt a more optimistic outlook.

In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final, India and South Africa faced off with perfect records from their individual campaigns, making it a battle of the undefeated. Unexpectedly, South Africa was in complete control of the run chase up until the match’s fifteenth over, despite having just advanced to the final with a number of thrilling victories by the slimmest of margins. The Proteas had yet another agonisingly wasted opportunity after the fifteenth over, when everything went wrong.

Amid a flurry of emotions, including the joyful and jubilant Indians, who were mostly in complete shock at what had happened, the captain of South Africa, Aiden Markram, remained calm and collected throughout the post-match ceremony.

His tone and words both demonstrated a great balance of emotions that belied his perfect serenity. Aiden Markram reflected on their perfect campaign, winning all eight of their matches to reach the championship game, and he acknowledged the general favourable emotion surrounding their success in the competition. Even yet, he acknowledged that the devastating loss would sting—but in a good way—because it would forge an intense team spirit for their upcoming championship game.

“Looking back, this competition will still feel pretty fantastic. It stings a little bit right now, but that’s a good thing. At the post-game ceremony, Aiden Markram said, “It gives you that little bit of fire in the belly for the next time that you’re here.”

“It naturally heightens the emotions when you get that close, especially given the style of the game. Though it’s one of those things, we can use it to our advantage going ahead. “I believe that over the course of the next few days, you just let things happen and allow yourself to feel the way you want to,” Aiden Markram continued.

Also Read: Dravid called India’s victory in the T20 World Cup a “great testament to the fight in the team.”

It’s interesting to note that South Africa’s next assignment involves returning to the Caribbean islands in August for two Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals. Given their strong showing in this year’s mega-event, there is a lot of expectation for them.