Former coach opens up about emotional toll of South Africa’s T20 World Cup defeat

South Africa's historic T20 World Cup 2024 final defeat to India is still fresh in the minds of many, with former head coach Russell Domingo acknowledging the emotional toll on the players. 

Despite being in a strong position with 30 runs needed from the final five overs, South Africa fell short as India secured a dramatic seven-run victory. Jasprit Bumrah’s crucial overs, along with standout performances from Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, were pivotal in India's win.

Domingo highlighted how the loss will be difficult for the South African squad to overcome, given that it was their first ICC final and they were considered favorites at one point. 

“It's going to take them a long time to get over this because it just takes so much out of you,” Domingo said.

South Africa's reputation for falling short in crucial moments, often referred to as 'chokers,' was under scrutiny again with this loss. However, the team earned respect for their aggressive approach throughout the tournament. 

Domingo also pointed out the positive developments in South African cricket, noting that the rise of young talent is accelerating thanks to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the SA20 league.
 
“We're seeing these youngsters come in and they're straight into the game, whereas maybe before it took a little bit longer to get into international cricket. They're getting into it very quickly and we're seeing the performances coming,” Domingo sai during the final.