Aiden Markram Focuses on Future as South Africa Prepares for T20 World Cup

As the T20 World Cup approaches, South Africa's captain Aiden Markram emphasizes a forward-looking mindset, leaving past losses behind. Meanwhile, Canada's captain Dilpreet Bajwa expresses pride in his team's preparations, highlighting their adaptability and readiness for the challenges ahead. Both teams are focused on their group stages, aiming for success in the tournament. Discover more about their strategies and aspirations as they gear up for this prestigious event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 6, 2026, 02:20 IST

Markram Shifts Focus from Past to Future

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 5: Aiden Markram, the captain of South Africa, has made it clear that the team is not burdened by the memories of their defeat in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against India. Instead, he emphasized that their drive stems from a strong desire to win, rather than reflecting on previous setbacks.

"The last World Cup is behind us; it happened two years ago. We've played numerous matches since then," Markram stated during the Captain's Day press conference in anticipation of the upcoming T20 World Cup, as reported by ICC.

"Every captain here, along with those who have led before us, aims to lift the trophy. However, to achieve that, we must first earn our place in the group stage and consistently perform well. This tournament is unpredictable, where any team can triumph over another. A few standout performances can change the course of a match. We are here to win and are motivated, particularly after 2024, but that isn't our only source of inspiration," the South African skipper remarked.

Markram also shared insights into the team's approach for the group stage. "We have made some personnel changes. Currently, we are not facing India in our group, and we hope to reach a point in the tournament where we can meet them," he explained.

"For now, our focus is on our group, ensuring we perform well in the four matches ahead to secure our advancement. Our immediate attention is solely on our group stage matches," Markram added.

Canada's Captain Expresses Pride Ahead of T20 World Cup

Dilpreet Bajwa, the captain of Canada, expressed pride as his team prepares for the T20 World Cup, emphasizing the necessary preparation and adaptability for the tournament.

"This is a significant moment for all our players," Bajwa stated. "Most of our team members hail from India. Although the conditions in Canada can be challenging, our board facilitated a pre-tour in Sri Lanka, allowing us to prepare effectively."

Bajwa noted that the tour was instrumental in testing team combinations and strategies. "We played several matches to evaluate our lineup and overall strategy. As a captain, I believe we are well-prepared, but since it’s a day game, we must remain adaptable and ready for whatever comes our way," he said.

The T20 World Cup squads for South Africa and Canada are as follows:

South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs.

Canada: Dilpreet Bajwa (captain), Ajayveer Hundal, Ansh Patel, Dilon Heyliger, Harsh Thaker, Jaskarandeep Singh, Kaleem Sana, Kanwarpal Tathgur, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Ravinderpal Singh, Saad Bin Zafar, Shivam Sharma, Shreyas Movva, Yuvraj Samra.