The T20 World Cup cricket final between India and South Africa is set to take place tonight. Both teams have reached the final without a single defeat in the tournament. For India, this marks their first final appearance in almost a decade, while South Africa is competing in their first-ever title match.
India’s history with the T20 World Cup dates back to their inaugural victory in 2007. They reached the final again in 2014 but were defeated by Sri Lanka. Last year, India made it to the final of the ODI World Cup, only to lose to Australia. This is the first time Rohit Sharma’s team has reached consecutive World Cup finals. Indian fans still remember the disappointment of the ODI World Cup loss, and the team now aims to redeem themselves by clinching the T20 title against South Africa.
India’s Record at Kensington Oval
The final will be held at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, at 8 PM IST. India has a favourable record at this ground, having played three matches here. In the 2010 T20 World Cup, India defeated Australia by 49 runs, although they were bowled out for just 135 runs. They also narrowly lost to West Indies by 14 runs in the same tournament. This year, India defeated Afghanistan by 47 runs at this venue.
Batting First Advantage
India and South Africa have never faced each other in a T20 match at Kensington Oval. Historically, 32 World Cup matches have been played here, with teams batting first winning 19 times, while teams bowling first have only won 10 times. The remaining matches were cancelled.
Weather Concerns
There is a significant chance of rain interrupting the final. The West Indies have experienced frequent rain during the tournament, leading to several match interruptions and cancellations. The India-England match also faced rain delays. The weather forecast for Saturday indicates a 78 percent chance of rain, with cloudy skies throughout the day. An extra day has been reserved for the final, and if play is not possible on Saturday, the match will be moved to Sunday. The ICC has allocated an extra 3 hours and 10 minutes to accommodate any delays.
Unbeaten Streaks
Both India and South Africa have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. South Africa’s fast bowling attack has been their greatest strength, complemented by a strong batting lineup. They dominated Afghanistan in the semi-final. India’s performance has also been stellar, with notable victories against Australia and England in the semi-finals. Despite concerns over Virat Kohli’s form, Rohit Sharma’s excellent leadership and performance have buoyed the team.
The final is expected to be a low-scoring affair, given the pitch conditions favouring both fast bowlers and spinners. South Africa faces the pressure of shedding their “Chokers” label, which could be a significant psychological hurdle. Meanwhile, India will need to quickly recover from their semi-final exertions to perform at their best in the final.
Indian Squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.
South African Squad: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Aiden Markram (captain), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.
