It’s been 53 days since South Africa’s heartbreaking loss in the T20 World Cup final, but the sting of that defeat still lingers for Aiden Markram and his team.

On June 29, at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, South Africa’s men’s cricket team experienced a first—a senior World Cup final. Unfortunately, they also faced the unprecedented pain of losing it. India claimed the title with a narrow seven-run victory, leaving the South African squad distraught and searching for ways to process the bitter defeat.

Markram, who captained South Africa during the tournament, spoke candidly about the emotional toll of the final during a press conference in Guyana on Tuesday. “I should give it as much time as it needs,” Markram said, reflecting on the days since the loss. “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.”

The final was a closely contested match, with South Africa positioned as favorites at one point during their chase of 177 runs. Heinrich Klaasen’s blistering 15th over against Axar Patel seemed to tilt the game in South Africa’s favor, but a series of tight overs and key wickets saw India turn the tide. In the end, South Africa fell short by just seven runs—a result that added yet another chapter to their history of narrow defeats in crucial matches.

To cope with the disappointment, Markram took some time away from cricket, avoiding conversations that would rekindle memories of the loss. “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. It was nice to get away from that and to reset,” he shared. Markram emphasized the importance of finding peace with how the final ended to move forward effectively.

Now, the focus shifts to the upcoming T20I series against West Indies, starting on Friday in Tarouba, Trinidad. The series marks South Africa’s return to T20I cricket since the World Cup final. However, the squad features only a few players from that fateful day, with Markram, Reeza Hendricks, and Tristan Stubbs among the familiar faces.

Markram, who also captains South Africa’s T20I side, is determined to lead his team beyond the shadows of the past. “It’s important that we keep driving a consistent message to the guys and making sure that they feel backed as players,” he said, expressing confidence in the team’s direction despite the changes in personnel.

The series against West Indies offers South Africa a chance to reclaim momentum and restore their confidence. As they take the field again, Markram and his team will be aiming not just for victory, but for redemption—a step towards new, happier memories.