'It's just hurts a lot': Markram 'gutted' but proud of South Africa after defeat in T20 World Cup final

South Africa captain Aiden Markram was “gutted” after the Proteas lost their first-ever T20 World Cup final to India by seven runs. While India broke their 11-year ICC title jinx at Barbados on Saturday, South Africa are yet to win a World Cup. They were in fact inches away from the trophy when Heinrich Klaasen scored a quick-fire half-century to reduce the asking rate to a run-a-ball. But India’s bowlers bounced with aplomb, giving away just 22 runs in the last five overs.

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“Obviously gutted. It will take some time for us to reflect on this. We’ve had a great campaign but for the time being, this hurts. I am so proud of all my players and everyone involved in this team,” said Markram.

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“We bowled very well, the pitch didn’t give them much to work with. We thought it was a chaseable total. It was a great game of cricket, I’m chuffed with all my guys, it’s hard not to get over the line but I’ll always be proud of them,” he said.

“We’ve seen that it’s not over until the last ball for a lot of our games. It changed quickly at the end there. But we were in a great position. We know we could’ve won the game,” he added.

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Markram added that despite the loss, reaching the World Cup final was a proud achievement for the team.

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“One thing you can guarantee from South African people is that they are competitive, but they are respectful. We pride ourselves on that. Hopefully moving forward we can learn from this and use it.

“This will always be a proud day for us, regardless,” he said.

He, however, didn’t shy away from admitting that another defeat so close to a World Cup title “hurts a lot”. South Africa have faltered multiple times in the World Cup semi-finals and their only major title win is the Champions Trophy victory in 1998.

“To get to our first final, it’s something we can be proud of. Still, in our eyes, it’s not good enough. You’re not satisfied with making a final,” he said.

“I think it’ll take a bit of time for us to reflect back on all the good things that we’ve done, but obviously for the time being, it’s just hurts a lot,” he said.

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Markram hoped South Africa would soon get their world title which could result in more achievements.

“Its just gut wrenching – that’s really what it is. Each player has been on a different individual journey to get to this first final.

“Ultimately you become really tight as a group and you want good things to happen to this group because you know they’re great people and when you get really close like that.

“The nature of how the game went, obviously adds to the emotions and it’s one of those things but we can channel it moving forward but I think next couple of days you let it be, you let yourself feel the way you want to feel and then really start reflecting in a positive manner.

“Hopefully it’s one step closer. It’s tournament cricket, it’s tough cricket, it’s not easy to win trophies and you’ve got to take your hats off to a team like India for lifting the trophy.

“Hopefully moving forward we can get that first win and it can be a snowball effect of quite a few to come,” he said.