T20 World Cup final: 'South Africa believe we can win from any position' — Aiden Markram

South Africa captain Aiden Markram has downplayed the threat of Team India and its superstars ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 final which will be played on Saturday in Barbados. While India won the tournament in 2007 and have also won ODI World Cups twice, the Saturday summit clash will be South Africa’s first men’s World Cup final.

T20 World Cup 2024:  News |  Schedule |  Results |  Points Table

India with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah in their ranks are seen as favourites but Markram said his team is heading in the “right direction” and the final is a “nice opportunity” to end the World Cup agony once and for all.

“Probably I just see it as a new game of cricket, to be honest. We all know India’s a great team. Us as a team, as South Africans, have been sort of trending in the right direction the last couple of years, but maybe not progressed in tournaments as far as we would have liked,” Markram said on the eve of the match.

More from First Cricket News

West Indies release special video celebrating team's first ODI series win vs Pakistan in 34 years; watch Suresh Raina to appear before ED for questioning in illegal betting app case linked to money laundering

“So, an exciting occasion tomorrow against a good opposition in India, but a nice opportunity for us as the Proteas as well.”

India vs South Africa: Where the final will be decided -- preview

South Africa’s journey to their first men’s World Cup final has seen them win eight out eight matches but a lot of them were narrow victories as they were run close by Bangladesh and Nepal. Markram feels the ability of South Africa to win ugly will come in handy in the final.

“There have been close moments in games that would have probably affected the result and we managed to win those moments,” He said. “To have done them two, three, maybe four times throughout the competition so far has sort of given the team the belief that you can win from any position, which I think is quite important for a team to have that.”

Impact Shorts

View All

'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report

PCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversy

Markram added that the constant travelling and quick turnaround time in the World Cup have not allowed him to reflect much on the team’s achievement but whatever happens in the final he is happy with how his team is progressing.

“You play a game, you get on a plane, you fly, you check in at a new hotel and play your next game of cricket the next day. So, I don’t think there’s too much reflecting that happens.

T20 World Cup final FAQs: Schedule, venue, reserve day rule and more

“But it’s more the opportunity that we have of being in a final that sort of excites me quite a bit I think after the competition we will sit back and really appreciate what we’ve achieved so far as a team,” he said.

“But yeah, we’d love to get to our first final and be able to win that first final. And hopefully in the years to come that can break the burden of what a lot of other people are saying about us as a team.”

India vs South Africa: Head-to-head, T20 World Cup history, stats and more

Talking about the mindset of the team ahead of the final, Markram said it’s driven by the motivation of winning the trophy.

“…you say, ‘guys, we’ve still got one more step to go’. So, it’s not driven by coach or by captain. The whole unit sort of feels that and is driven by that,” he said.

“…sportsmen are highly competitive people and nobody would want to lose, and especially not lose in a final. So, I think there’s no sense that the guys are satisfied regardless of the result tomorrow. I think there’s still a massive hunger for us to go out and win tomorrow’s game.”