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'He Was...': SA Great Gives His Verdict On Markram's Leadership After SA's T20 WC Exit

SA captain, Aiden Markram (X.com)SA captain, Aiden Markram (X.com)

On Wednesday, South Africa's former skipper Graeme Smith talked about Aiden Markram and his 'tactically astute' leadership that led South Africa to their first-ever appearance in the final of the T20 World Cup which they narrowly lost to India last week at Barbados.

South Africa had a near-perfect campaign in the T20 World Cup under Markram's captaincy with their only defeat coming in the final when India pipped the Proteas by seven runs.

"Aiden was particularly good during the tournament. He was tactically astute, had good plans and was brave enough to make the big calls and then get all his players to commit to it.

"We have, of course, seen Aiden captain in this manner before over the course of the past two SA20 seasons, leading the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back championship titles, but now he has transferred this experience to the international arena," Smith told PTI.

Smith said SA20, in its two seasons so far, has been able to prepare the South African cricketers to be ready for pressure and challenges at the highest level.

"From the outset, the league, alongside Cricket South Africa, has wanted to provide South African cricketers with the opportunity to be exposed to a higher level of domestic cricket where the players are able to rub shoulders and learn from some of the best the game has to offer. 

"Players are exposed to high-pressure and competitive cricket and this experience stood them in good stead in the US and Caribbean," said one of the greatest South Africa captains.

This was the first time in South Africa's history that they reached the finals of the T20 World Cup 2024 with a clean track record.