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South Africa T20I captain Aiden Markram believes he has finally unlocked a clear blueprint to perform consistently in the shortest format of the game. Markram further believes that this can prove to be a timely development as the Proteas are gearing up for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, to be held in India and Sri Lanka in February-March 2026.

There’s been an ongoing debate over what exactly is the right-hander’s perfect batting position in T20Is. His most productive T20 World Cup campaign came in 2021, when batting No. 4 in the UAE – he struck two half-centuries, averaging 54, with a strike rate of nearly 146, proving his value in the middle overs.

Markram’s recent exploits for Durban’s Super Giants in the ongoing SA20 2025-26, though, have reinforced that mindset. After batting in the middle order at the start of the season, he was pushed up the order when Devon Conway left for international duty. Speaking after a stunning 108 off 58 balls at Kingsmead, Markram explained how that shift has helped shape his thinking for the global stage. 

“Initially, we put out the team that we thought would best work and gel. I was more than happy to bat in that middle order. Then there was obviously an opportunity the last couple of games to get up the order. I obviously feel comfortable doing it,” he said. 

The 108-run innings, featuring 12 fours and five sixes, was Markram’s best T20 effort yet and came on the back of a quickfire 66 off 46 balls and a 13-ball 25 earlier in the SA20 season. Reflecting on his recent form, the ace cricketer added that even small contributions with the bat can help build a batter's confidence. 

“A lot of the time, you make 20s and 30s in this format, which contributes but doesn’t quite win you games. I feel like I’ve been doing that quite often recently and not quite kicking on. If there’s any silver lining, it’s a bit of a blueprint now moving forward into that World Cup — how it looks when you open the batting to score big runs for myself,” said Markram. 

Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad has plans to deploy Markram at the top of the order in 2026, despite Markram’s modest returns as a T20I opener: 319 runs in 23 matches at just 24.53. But his strike rate jumps to a potent 168.78 when he faces the new ball. As a result, it will be fascinating to see how he fares in the global tournament starting February 7. 

The Proteas are scheduled to play their opening encounter at the upcoming T20 WC against Canada on February 9, at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. They are placed in Group D of the competition and are accompanied by Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand, and the UAE.