WTC Final 2025: South Africa batter Aiden Markram aims to end SA ICC trophy drought
New Delhi [India] June 5 (ANI): In their quest to finally break South Africa's ICC trophy drought, South Africa batter Aiden Markram hopes a run for underdogs continues in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, according to the ICC website.
Markram hopes a run of sporting trophy droughts broken in 2025 rings true at the World Test Championship 2025 Final, with the Proteas taking on defending champions Australia from June 11.
In the cricket world, Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally tasted men's IPL success, beating Punjab Kings in the tournament final, while in football, Paris Saint Germain lifted the UEFA Champions League earlier this month for the first time.
While Markram acknowledged it hasn't been a storyline taken on by the Proteas looking to finally break their duck, the right-hander hopes it may just be an omen for his team.
'(There's) not much chat along those lines in terms of watching the other events, but hopefully that trend can continue,' Markram told ICC Digital ahead of the Final. Obviously, we've been chasing it now for many years as a squad,' Aiden Markram said.
'Across all formats, we've probably improved slightly throughout and had sniffs to win it. If we can get ourselves into a position over the five days of the Test match to win, we'll push really hard for that.'
South Africa has been in the mix across formats at ICC events in recent years. Last year, it reached the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Final but fell at the final hurdle to India.
The side also reached the semi-final stage at both the 2023 Cricket World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy, and came into the Lord's final having topped the table.
Markram gives insight into South Africa's mindset by saying each player has received clear instructions in pursuing the mace.
'I think it's the collective decision for each guy to bring their best skill. It's going to be a tough game.'
'It's a Test match, of course, against Australia and a Dukes ball, Lord's, all those sorts of things, but ultimately, the guys have a skillset that have got them here, got them selected, throughout the cycle performed as well, doing those skills,' he added.
'So it's about backing that, our best skill versus their (Australia's) best skill, and we'll see where it lands us at the end of the day.'
Australia stands as an imposing opponent. They are the defending champions and sealed their Final spot after a series win over giants India on home soil.
The Proteas fell 2-0 to the Aussies on tour in the 2021-2023 cycle, though Markram believes there is little he and his side haven't seen from their opponents.
'We pretty much know what the Australians are all about and their skill levels, their characters and all those sorts of things,' Markram said.
'It's always a challenge that we get really excited for, and we generally get up for it and look forward to it. I've got no doubt this time it'll be any different.'
In their quest for victory, the Proteas have set up in Arundel, taking on Zimbabwe in a warm-up match, before travelling to Lord's to join England fast bowling legend Stuart Broad, who comes in as a consultant for the team's fast bowling battery.
Markram says vibes in the camp are positive ahead of the Final.
'The energies have been good, obviously lots of excitement in the air for the time being. (I'm) sure when we get a bit closer to the game or a few nerves will start kicking in,' Markram said. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
TOI Exclusive: 'Winning means more than stats and milestones' - Sai Sudharsan ready for his biggest test in England
Ahead of the Tests against England, Sai Sudharsan tells TOI that more than averages & personal goals, for him it's about 'improving as a batter across formats' & contributing to the team's cause. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now .. It's been a crazy last few days for Sai Sudharsan. The 23-year-old left-hander was brilliant for Gujarat Titans in the , but his Orange Cap-winning effort as the highest run-getter was not enough to take his franchise to the final. There was no time to brood as Sai had to prepare for the biggest assignment of his career so far — the England Test tour. The form he has been in, it's almost a certainty that he'll be part of a newlook playing XI. Excerpts from an exclusive interview... Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. You're going to England on the back of a stupendously successful IPL. What has been the secret of your success? It's about trying to be consistent every day. It's not about the results, not about how the season went. Everyday I have to be consistent enough so that I can replicate the performances. I played a couple of seasons of IPL before and having the experience of doing it on this stage helped me. Your batting has an element of classical beauty. Yet, you also have the ability to score at a fantastic strike rate. How can you be so easy on the eye yet be so destructive? My only aim is to bat according to the merit of the ball. I try not to predetermine and ensure that I don't miss out on too many deliveries. I look to manage the good balls delivered by the bowlers so that I don't get stuck. Gautam Gambhir sends stern message after Bengaluru tragedy Scoring runs off good balls is one of your best traits... Tired of too many ads? go ad free now I'm not exactly sure, I just keep trying. If runs come off good balls, there is never a desperate situation where I have to play extravagant shots to come out of jail. You have had a brilliant partnership with Shubman Gill in GT. Now he is your India Test captain... I've had a lot of partnerships with him in the past three, four years. It's been fantastic. Playing with him, I've learnt a lot on the tactical front and his ability to stay calm and relaxed. I've learnt a lot in terms of mindset and always look up to him and try to have a lot of conversations. I'm enjoying the chemistry that we have. It works even better because we are kind of similar batters who run really hard, who make use of the good balls really well and play orthodox cricket. Both of us try to be consistent and replicate what we are doing as many times as possible. What are the areas of your game which have improved after interacting so closely with Gill? The biggest thing is the mindset, self belief and the trust that he has in his ability. I've seen how he manages himself when he's not getting runs — that understanding of the game and life to maintain consistency. Then there are technical discussions as well which are also helpful. How difficult is the transition in such a short time from IPL to Tests? There are quite a few changes. T20 has its own demands. It's more of a mindset shift and awareness of what you have to focus more on. It's about working on the basics to deal with the swing and seam movement. It's important to be patient and play long and I'll try to do that. Sai Sudharsan: 'County stints reminded me that basics are most important part of batting' You've been opening in the IPL but there's a lot of talk about you being the new No. 3 in Tests, with Shubman coming in to bat at No. 4... Wherever the team tells me to play, I'll be ready. There's nothing more special than playing for the country. I've always played in the top order for my state, but it's absolutely the team's call. I'm happy just to play for India. What are your personal targets from the England series? Your first-class average is below 40, does that bother you? I don't look at my averages. It's not about personal goals, it's about things that you can do for the team so that we can win. For me, winning means more than statistics and milestones. The idea is to improve as a batter in all formats. I have not won much in red-ball cricket barring some Ranji games. Winning matches have been special because it happens over a longer period. You know you have sustained your hard work for a longer period of time and getting the reward for that is beautiful. You've also played county cricket for Surrey. Will that help in England? I've been there. I've played six or seven games and know what to expect, so it'll definitely make a big difference. When I practised the last few days, I looked back at my journal and checked the notes that I had taken during my county stint. Sai Sudharsan's T20 Evolution: Where skill meets science | TOI Sports Exclusive Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are retired and you're projected as a 'generational talent'. Is this tag an extra burden? (Laughs) Well, I haven't heard of it anywhere. I'm not looking at it in that way, I am just trying to be myself and be prepared for whatever situation or challenge that comes in front. Of course, these are very big shoes to fill, but I am just looking to give my best, work as hard as possible, win the series and create lovely memories for my country. Did you get a chance to talk to Virat Kohli during the IPL or after the final and did you take some tips? I just congratulated him after the final, it was a very special moment for him. But I've had a lot of conversations in previous years. What I've always admired about him is his mindset — the obsession that he has for the sport. I have spoken with him regarding those and how dealt with situations when he was not getting a lot of runs and finding it difficult. I think, as a cricketer, those are the times that you learn most, so I had conversations about that. Indian batting is going through a transition phase and you are one of the leading faces. The England bowling unit, too, is going through a transition... I can't say about England, but from the Indian team's point of view, it's a phase of transition. There are quite a few new faces in our team. I think it's an opportunity for us to showcase our talent and give our best. The important thing is to learn so that we improve from that and keep playing this sport at our best for a long time. I don't treat it as pressure. I think of it as a beautiful opportunity to give my best. Who are your idols? When I was younger, I looked up to Washington Sundar. He was the biggest player I knew at that stage and tried to follow his footsteps. During lockdown, I used to watch a lot of Virat Kohli's batting and listened to his interviews. Then when I started playing for India, I started watching Justin Langer and Mike Hussey and learned as much as I could. But to start with, I think it's my dad (Bhardwaj), who was also an international sprinter, who was my hero. I got my inspiration and hunger to succeed from him. n Shubman Gill story: From a remote village near the border to India's Test captain Do you maintain your own journal? Yes, I love writing a lot. I write a lot of things specifically about cricket — more about batting, about game awareness, about things that I have learnt and where I can get better. When I was young, my parents, who are also athletes, taught me this habit of writing. They told me to jot things down, the little details in practice, the things that I've learnt. These are more like reflections of the practice session or the games, and when I developed this habit, I loved doing it. You are obsessed with your fitness... My fitness obsession changed almost everything in my career. I was a bit fat when I was young but I realized that it's very difficult to excel and express your skill sets if you're not in the right shape. At that point, I started working on fitness that much more. Was there a tipping point in your career when you decided to go hard on your fitness? Yes, definitely. When I was playing U-19s, I got dropped from the Tamil Nadu team. That snub was a big turning point because it hit me really hard. It was a big moment for me and I realised that a lot of things have to change. I changed my food habits, I changed my training, I changed the way I trained. Having made those changes, I went on to play for India A that year.
News18
22 minutes ago
- News18
RCB Marketing Head Nikhil Sosale Calls Arrest 'Illegal', Says Held On 'Siddaramaiah's Oral-Order'
Last Updated: The incident claimed 11 lives and left over 50 people injured during RCB's IPL victory celebrations. Nikhil Sosale, the marketing head of Royal Challengers, has moved the Karnataka High Court challenging his arrest in connection with the stampede outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium. The incident claimed 11 lives and left over 50 people injured during RCB's IPL victory celebrations. Nikhil Sosale approached the high court stating that his arrest in the wee hours of Friday was based on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's oral instructions and was arbitrary and illegal. Sosale has petitioned the Karnataka High Court to contest his arrest, alleging that an FIR was filed against him following a 'late-night" cabinet meeting and after the court initiated suo-motu proceedings. His counsel submitted that police inspector AK Girisha (investigating officer), who filed the FIR, was himself suspended. 'Arrest is the domain of the IO, and it cannot be done on instructions from a superior," counsel said. In his petition, Sosale alleged that his arrest was an attempt to shift blame for the incident onto RCB and its staff. He pointed out that senior police officers were suspended for dereliction of duty, while he, a private citizen, was hastily arrested without a thorough investigation to determine individual responsibilities. He claimed his arrest violated his constitutional rights, specifically Article 19, as it occurred at night. He also argued that the 'hasty action reflected a predetermined agenda based on the chief minister's directive, without a proper investigation of his specific involvement, disregarding natural justice principles". Justice SR Krishna Kumar adjourned the hearing to June 9 after a brief session, stating that interim relief will be considered once the state government/police files a statement of objections. First Published: June 07, 2025, 11:16 IST
India Today
22 minutes ago
- India Today
Top KSCA officials resign after owning moral responsibility for Bengaluru stampede
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary A Shankar and treasurer E Jairam have handed in their resignations in the wake of the Bengaluru stampede on Friday, June 6. The duo announced their decision through a joint press release on Saturday. The Bengaluru stampede happened on the day after RCB's IPL title win on June 3. The incident led to the death of 11 people and left many injured. In the press release, Shankar and Sriram said that they are taking moral responsibility for the incident, despite their role in it being very limited. The duo said that they had handed their resignations to the President of KSCA on Friday. advertisement"This is to inform that due to the unforeseen and unfortunate events that have unfolded in the last two days and though our role was very limited, but owing moral responsibility, we wish to state that last night we have tendered our resignation to our respective posts as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, by way of a letter dated 06.06.2025 to the President of Karnataka State Cricket Association. This is for your information," read the statement on the press release. How did the Bengaluru stampede happen A large crowd had gathered outside the Chinnaswamy stadium to be a part of the felicitation ceremony for the RCB players on June 4 after they won the IPL 2025 title after beating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in the final. advertisementHowever, complete mismanagement of the large crowd led to the death of 11 people, and nearly 50 were injured as a deadly stampede broke out outside the venue. Even though the event was only for people with valid passes, a huge crowd appeared at the venue to get a glimpse of the RCB squad. Since then, RCB has announced a compensation for the families of the victims and set up a fund to help the people who were injured in the incident. Tune InMust Watch
