Aiden Markram

Aiden Markram is the only South African cricketer, beyond Hansie Cronje, who has his hands on an ICC trophy. An aggressive right-handed opener who doesn’t believe in leaving the new ball, but loves playing his strokes to take the shine off it. Makram is a fluent stroke-maker who is a rare Protea commodity, possessing the ability to spin bowling effortlessly. 

A young Makram stamped his authority during the 2014 U-19 World Cup, where he led his national team to victory and ended the tournament as the highest run-getter. He returned home with glory and made his domestic debut. He played his maiden first-class game against South Western Districts in October 2014. A few days later, Makram made his List-A debut against the same opposition. He was also included in Northern’s squad for the 2015 Africa T20 Cup. 

Makram got Mark Boucher’s guidance which powered him to produce a couple of good domestic seasons. Soon, he was named in South Africa A’s squad for the England tour in June 2016, and then a national call-up wasn’t far. Makram made his international debut against Bangladesh in 2017. He scored 97 runs on his debut before getting run-out horribly. The opener didn’t repeat the feat in his second Test and scored a solid 143 off 186 balls and backed it up with a 125 against Zimbabwe in his third outing. The following month, he made his ODI debut to replace Hashim Amla, though got his T20I cap after playing international cricket for two years. 

Since his international debut, Makram has been a regular in Tests, but he still has to cement his place in the limited-overs setup. The stroke-maker was part of South Africa’s squad during the 2019 World Cup and then replaced Amla in the playing XI. 

In April 2021, Aiden Markram was selected for the Northerns' squad ahead of the 2021–22 domestic cricket season in South Africa.

On September 11, 2021, he joined Punjab Kings for the second phase of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL), held in the UAE. Later, in February 2022, he was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad during the IPL auction for the 2022 season.

Following his successful leadership in guiding Sunrisers Eastern Cape to the inaugural SA20 championship, Markram was appointed captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2023 IPL season.

His international leadership credentials were further recognised in March 2023, when he was named South Africa’s T20I captain ahead of their home series against the West Indies.

During the 2023 Cricket World Cup, Markram made history in a match against Sri Lanka, registering the fastest century in tournament history at the time, reaching 100 runs in just 49 balls. His record was later surpassed by Glenn Maxwell during the same tournament. He eventually scored 106 runs off 54 balls before getting dismissed.

In May 2024, Markram was appointed captain of South Africa’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Though he had a modest tournament with the bat, he made history by becoming the first Proteas captain to lead South Africa to a T20 World Cup final. Unfortunately, his team fell short in the final, losing to India. For the 2025 IPL season, Markram is part of the Lucknow SuperGiants squad.

Aiden Markram’s journey from a promising young talent to a seasoned international cricketer and leader exemplifies his resilience, skill, and adaptability. Whether anchoring the innings with the bat, leading his teams to historic milestones, or setting records on the world stage, Markram has proven to be a pivotal figure in modern-day cricket. 

As he continues to evolve as a player and captain, his leadership and performance will be crucial in shaping the future of South African cricket. With his experience in franchise leagues worldwide and a growing legacy in international cricket, Markram remains a key figure to watch in the coming years.

(As of April 2025)