- Aiden Markram is confident about South Africa's chances in final against India.
- South Africa aims to overcome past tournament disappointments.
- Markram believes the close wins have boosted team morale.
For the first time, South Africa is set to compete in a World Cup final, facing an Indian team eager to break their ICC championship dry spell since 2013.
With the final approaching, Markram reflects on previous instances where the Proteas faltered under pressure.
"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.
“So, an exciting occasion tomorrow against a good opposition in India, but a nice opportunity for us as the Proteas as well,” said Markram.
Both teams, South Africa and India, have maintained an undefeated streak leading up to the final, with South Africa overcoming several hurdles.
Markram acknowledges the boost in morale his squad has received from these close encounters, setting their sights beyond second place.
"There have been close moments in games that would have probably affected the result and we managed to win those moments.
“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,” said Markram.
Regardless of the outcome on Saturday, Markram is optimistic about his team’s trajectory.
“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,” he expressed.
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