'IT'S JUST GUT-WRENCHING': SOUTH AFRICA'S AIDEN MARKRAM REFLECTS ON DEVASTATING LOSS TO INDIA IN T20 WORLD CUP FINAL

NEW DELHI: South African captain Aiden Markram expressed his devastation following his team's narrow loss to India in the T20 World Cup final, reflecting on the defeat and expressing hope for future successes.

South Africa, needing 30 runs from the final 30 balls to chase down India’s 176, fell short by seven runs, despite a brilliant 27-ball 52 from Heinrich Klaasen.

India’s victory was anchored by exceptional death bowling from Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya and a spectacular catch by Suryakumar Yadav, with Virat Kohli setting up the match with a superb 76-run knock.

"It's not the first game of cricket that's been lost with a team needing 30 off 30 – it's more that India was allowed to bowl well, they're allowed to field well, they're allowed to go from that position to a position of strength," Markram was quoted as saying by PTI in the post-match press conference.

Despite the pain of losing, Markram expressed pride in his team for reaching their first World Cup final and shedding the "chokers" tag to some extent.

"I think one thing that I will definitely say is how proud we are. Not just of today, the game itself, but the competition as a whole, the build-up to get here. So, in hindsight, things will still feel really good about this competition. But like I mentioned, just for the time being, it stings a bit, but it's good for it to sting. It gives you that little bit of fire in the belly for next time that you're here," he said.

Markram acknowledged Heinrich Klaasen's special effort, stating it would be tough for him to come to terms with the loss.

"We've seen him do it many, many times around the world and to deliver it in a stage like this is a really special effort. So, it's going to be tough for him, that's what I say when I mean we reflect back. There's going to be lots of things to be happy about," he said.

As the Indian players celebrated their triumph, the South African team faced the harsh reality of another major title slipping through their hands at the final hurdle.

"It's 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," Markram said.

Reflecting on the emotional nature of the loss, he added, "...when you get really close like that, especially the nature of how the game went, obviously adds to the emotions and it's one of those things but yeah, 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."