Debut years In June 2017, Markram was named in South Africa's
Test squad for their series
against England, but did not play. In August 2017, he was named as
captain of the
South Africa A cricket team for their two four-day matches against India A. In September 2017, Markram was named in South Africa's Test squad for their series
against Bangladesh. He made his Test debut for South Africa against Bangladesh on 28 September 2017.
Record breaking start After narrowly missing out on a maiden Test century on debut, Markram completed the feat in the second Test against Bangladesh on 6 October 2017 scoring 143 off 186 balls before being bowled by
Rubel Hossain. In October 2017, Markram was added to South Africa's
One Day International (ODI) squad ahead of the third match
against Bangladesh, replacing
Hashim Amla. He made his ODI debut for South Africa against
Bangladesh on 22 October 2017, scoring 66 runs as well as taking 2 wickets. In December 2017, Markram scored his second Test hundred and became the first South Africa player to score two centuries in his first three Tests.
One Day International captaincy In February 2018, South Africa's captain
Faf du Plessis was ruled out of the last five ODIs and the
Twenty20 International (T20I) series
against India due to a finger injury. Markram was named as South Africa's captain for the remaining ODI fixtures in du Plessis' absence. He, at the age of 23 years 123 days, is the second youngest player to captain South Africa in ODIs after
Graeme Smith.
2018–19 On 30 March 2018, Markram scored his career-best score of 152 runs on the first day of the
fourth test against Australia. In June 2018, Markram was named in South Africa's
Test squad for a two-Test series in Sri Lanka. Markram averaged just 10 with the bat in this series, his first overseas for South Africa, which showed a vulnerability against
spin bowling. In August 2018, Markram was named in South Africa's
Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for the one-off match against
Sri Lanka, but he did not play in the fixture. In March 2019, he was again named in South Africa's T20I squad, this time for the series
against Sri Lanka. He made his T20I debut for South Africa against Sri Lanka on 22 March 2019. In April 2019, Markram was named in
South Africa's squad for the
2019 Cricket World Cup. In August 2019, Markram was named in South Africa's squad for the three
Test series in India. Markram struggled in the first two matches of this series, bagging a
pair in the second Test, before being ruled out of the third due to a self-inflicted wrist injury. This series raised further questions about Markram's overseas performances, averaging just 10.50 in four away Tests, all in the
subcontinent. In December 2019, Markram was named in South Africa's squad for the four-Test home series against England. In the first Test, he scored 20 runs in the first innings and 2 in the second as South Africa beat England by 107 runs at
Centurion. Markram however missed the remainder of the series after fracturing his finger.
2021-23 In January 2021, Markram was named in South Africa's
Test squad for their series
against Pakistan. In the first test, Markram scored a patient 74 in a losing effort. In the second test, Markram made his first century in more than two and a half years, and his first in Asia. Markram finished as the leading run scorer in the series, averaging 56.75, however South Africa lost the series, their first Test series defeat against Pakistan since 2003. In March 2023, he was appointed as the captain of
South Africa cricket team in T20Is, ahead of their home series
against the West Indies.
2023 ICC Cricket World Cup In October 2023 in a match against Sri Lanka, Markram scored the then fastest century in a men's
Cricket World Cup, reaching the milestone in 49 deliveries, a record later broken during the tournament by Australian batter
Glenn Maxwell. He was dismissed soon after for 106 off 54.
2024 Men's T20 World Cup In May 2024, he was named the captain in South Africa's squad for the
2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament. He had a quiet tournament with the bat, but became the first ever Proteas captain to lead the team to the final of an
ICC Men's T20 World Cup. South Africa went on to lose the final to
India.
2025 ICC World Test Championship Final He was named as the Player of the Final in the
2025 ICC World Test Championship final as South Africa defeated Australia by 5 wickets to win their maiden championship.
2025-onwards In August 2025, he was named in the South Africa white ball squads to tour
Australia. In September 2025, he was named in the Proteas white ball squads to tour
England. In September 2025, he was named captain of the Proteas squad to tour Pakistan, in absence of regular skipper
Temba Bavuma. In November 2025, he was named in the Proteas Test squad
to tour India. In the second and last match, which South Africa won to complete a 2-0 clean sweep, he broke the record for the most catches in a Test match, with 9, surpassing
Rahane's 8 in 2015. In December 2025, Markram produced a pivotal innings for South Africa in the second ODI against India, keeping the series alive for his team at 1-1 (3). Having previously expressed responsibility for South Africa’s shortcomings in the earlier match, Markram responded with a commanding century that restored confidence in the team and provided a solid platform for the team’s middle order. His innings was credited with shifting momentum in South Africa’s favour, with the match report noting a surge in belief within the squad as Markram set the stage for the team’s more aggressive batters. Markram was declared Player of the Match. This chase also marked the third time South Africa has successfully chased 350 + runs in ODIs, matching India for the most such chases for any team.
2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup In January 2026, he was named captain of the South Africa squad to take part in the 2026 edition of the Men's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. In the first match against Canada, he led his team to victory with 59 runs off 32 balls. In the 3rd game, he led South Africa’s chase with an unbeaten 86 off 44 balls, striking eight fours and four sixes, as his innings powered a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In the Super 8 stage of the tournament, he scored 82 not out off 46 balls as his team chased down 177 against the West Indies, securing semi final qualification.
Achievements • Named in
ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year for the year 2021. ==References==