India is set to compete in their second World Cup final in just seven months, as they face off against South Africa in the T20 title clash in Bridgetown, Barbados, this Saturday.
Eager to move beyond their 2023 ODI World Cup final defeat to Australia on home soil, India will be looking to claim victory as the month-long T20 World Cup in the U.S. and the West Indies reaches its climax.
Heading into the finale, both India and South Africa boast an impressive record: they have remained unbeaten throughout this year’s T20 World Cup.
Each team topped their respective groups and achieved similar outcomes in the Super Eights stage. In the semi-finals, India triumphed over the defending champions, England, while South Africa dominated Afghanistan.
India aims to capture the T20 World Cup trophy for the second time, having won the inaugural edition in 2007. The men in blue have not secured any major silverware since their 2013 Champions Trophy victory and their last World Cup triumph was the 2011 50-over edition.
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, has been a beacon of consistency, amassing 248 runs across seven matches, including an outstanding 92 against Australia in the Super Eights phase.
India’s bowling lineup has also been formidable. Pace bowler Arshdeep Singh has taken 15 wickets, and premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been nearly unplayable, securing 13 wickets to date.
While India is keen to end their global title drought, South Africa is determined to shed the “chokers” label that has long plagued them.
The Proteas will be making their first World Cup final appearance after enduring seven previous semi-final defeats across all formats (five in ODI World Cups and two in T20 World Cups). Their pace bowlers, led by Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada, have been pivotal, and Quinton de Kock has been the top scorer with 204 runs in eight matches.
The winner of Saturday’s final will make history as the first team to win a men’s T20 World Cup unbeaten.
Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
The final will take place at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. India previously defeated Afghanistan at this venue in the Super Eights, while South Africa has yet to play here during this tournament.
Most matches at this venue have not been closely contested, except for one that went to the Super Over. Historically, teams batting first have had a better win rate in T20 internationals at this ground. The surface is favorable for batting and offers more assistance to pace bowlers than spinners.
According to The Weather Channel, there is a 70% chance of rain during the match.
Head-To-Head Record
In T20 international meetings, India and South Africa have faced each other 26 times:
– India wins: 14
– South Africa wins: 11
– No result: 1
Squads
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs
As India and South Africa prepare for an epic showdown in Bridgetown, fans worldwide are eager to see who will emerge victorious in this historic T20 World Cup final. Will India break their title drought, or will South Africa finally dispel the “chokers” myth?
Stay tuned for what promises to be an unforgettable match. Don’t miss out on the action—tune in this Saturday on Disney+ Hotstar to witness history in the making!
