🏏ICC T20I WC 2024: Final - M55: SA vs India @ 8:00 PM IST🏏

🏏ICC T20I WC 2024: Final - M55: SA vs India at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on 29/06/2024 @ 8:00 PM IST🏏

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Unbeaten India and South Africa come face to face in bid for glory

South Africa have the weight of history to deal with, India's brightest stars have resolutely reinvented their games because they really wanted to be here. Winning will mean so much to either side

It's just a cup... right?

There are no fairytales in life, obviously, but sport does a great deal to make up for it, to the extent that it offers gifts like this Saturday, when, at the end of 40 overs - give or take a Super Over - 11 men will realise the difference between fantasy and reality is that fantasy was never quite as good as this.

What would that feel like for South Africa? At the start, they couldn't even play in these World Cups. Then, they changed some things that desperately needed changing and have since been specialising in the impossible. Jonty Rhodes switching gravity off in 1992. Twenty-two runs off 1 ball. Lance Klusener upending the natural order in 1999. Allan Donald run out without the bat even in his hand. There is no team with as rich a history in these tournaments, both good and bad, and there is probably no team that wants this more. The catharsis, should Aiden Markram find himself on that podium, will be seismic, because he will have with him an entire nation that at some point or other thought they might never see the day.

There are those in India who might have felt similarly after November 19, 2023. Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid, for example. Their days are already numbered. The coach is set to depart and the captain may not have a lot of time on his hands as well. But, together, they are responsible for harassing a great team out of its comfort zone and into a place where anything seems possible. All of this - the acceptance that what they were doing in T20 cricket wasn't working and the commitment to keep on this new path despite considerable personal lows - has been in search of silverware.

For 40 overs - give or take a Super Over - nothing will matter as much as the ball and bat they will be holding in their hands. But after that, whether they win or lose, both India and South Africa should be reminded that they are excellent teams and exceptional people. They should both be able to share their love with family. Toast their time with colleagues. Chase after their children. Enjoy the compassion of their fans. If any of that is contingent on the colour of the medal around their necks, we're doing something really wrong.

[Tag and Logo Credit to Wildestdreams]

IND vs SA Final, Barbados Weather Live Updates: India will take on face South Africa on Saturday in the T20 World Cup final at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. That's unless the weather has other plans.

IND vs SA, Barbados Weather Report Live: Rain is expected to play spoilsport in the final of the ongoing T20 World Cup according to weather forecast. The T20 World Cup final will be played between India and South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on Saturday (morning in Barbados, but 8 pm IST).

India thumped defending champions England by 68 runs in the second semi-final to reach the final, while South Africa routed Afghanistan by nine wickets in the first semi-final.

Barbados Weather Update for Saturday

According to an information issued by the Barbados Meteorological Service on Thursday (June 27), by Saturday, a tropical storm is expected to affect the island on the day of the IND vs SA final. According to weather reports, there is a high chance of rainfall throughout the day on June 29 (day of the IND vs SA final) in Barbados. However, the weather prediction is expected to change as we near the match day (as we have witnessed happening throughout the ICC T20 World Cup 2024).

Pitch and conditions - Feisty conditions again

Outside of New York, Kensington Oval has offered the most wickets to fast bowlers in the T20 World Cup: 59 at an average of 20.22 and economy rate of 7.88. There's been one total above 200 but the rest fit in a range between 109 and 181 (the latter made by India at the only game either of these finalists have played at the venue this World Cup).

The final will be played on pitch No. 4, which was used for the games between Namibia and Oman, and Scotland and England. It's the fourth pitch of eight on the square, so neither boundary should be significantly longer than the other.

There is a threat of rain over this final but it does have a reserve day.

In the spotlight - Jasprit Bumrah and Heinrich Klaasen

At times, it feels unfair that Jasprit Bumrah gets to bowl four overs in a T20 game. Depending on allegiance, that is either too much or too few. For a sport that is built around pure spectacle, there can be no better ambassador than a man who detonates the wickets, leaves impact craters on the bat, the pad and even the mind of opposition batters, and does it all with a smile on his face.

Heinrich Klaasen is on similarly good terms with the forces that make simple human beings extraordinary. He shows the ball new places to go to and it takes flight all too willingly. This World Cup is yet to see him at his destructive best but the thing is, players of his quality rarely go too long without making a contribution.

In just about a year, the Rahul Dravid-Rohit Sharma combination will be heading into their third final, raising the big question: will the third attempt be the triumphant one? After the loss in the WTC final last June and the heartbreaking World Cup defeat at home last November - both against Australia incidentally - India are determined to set the record straight as they face South Africa in the Twenty20 World Cup final on Saturday. But can they?

"Yes of course," said Rahul Dravid, on the eve of the match. "I think it's good that we are consistent and playing good cricket. For many years, especially in the last year, being No 1 in all three formats, playing in the finals.., is a good thing. Indian cricket has shown a lot of consistency and it is a very happy thing. And... if we play well and if we have the rub of the green, then we will win." The best part of the coach's response was that the Indian team isn't putting pressure on themselves, something they may have been guilty of on earlier two occasions, particularly last in the World Cup, to win the trophy. They are in a "life goes on" mode, blissfully unfazed about the 'what-if' factor.

The pressure aside, South Africa will be formidable opponents, and India will need to be at the top of their game. Before the match, the think tank must make several crucial calls: Would they be happy with South Africa chasing or bat first? And what should India do themselves? Considering they have batted first in both crucial games against Australia and England, would it be wise to stick with this strategy, or should they assess the pitch and decide if it favors an easier chase, as they often do in the IPL? Finally, will the pressure of the final be too overwhelming, prompting them to stick with what has been working so far?

Jos Buttler provided a peek at what is expected in the final. "I think the two top sides in the final and it is going to be a game of small margins and it's going to be a great game. Two really good teams," the England skipper said after his team's semifinal loss to India in Georgetown on Thursday.

Selection seems easy as they have been very clear on roles and aimed to give each player maximum chance to prove themselves, a bit like the Chennai Super Kings formula, which means Virat Kohli and Shivam Dube, despite their underwhelming showing so far, are likely to be persisted with. Who's to argue against that anyway, when there is success to show?

The threat for India lies in South Africa's formidable batting lineup, which becomes even more dangerous on a good pitch with smaller boundary dimensions - a factor that could diminish the effectiveness of spinners. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller are dangerous finishers who can apply strong pressure on the bowlers in the latter half of the innings. Quinton de Kock, who can dominate from the start, poses a challenge upfront as he showed against England in a league game.

Regarding the South Africa bowling, much will depend on how effectively India pairs Rishabh Pant and Shivam Dube against Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi. The challenge arises if Pant gets out early, which has been happening of late. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya cannot be delayed in the batting order, which will leave India needing to find a way to involve Dube early to handle the spinners without taking too many balls away.

The pitch for the final (Pitch No. 4) has seen two previous games: England vs. Scotland, which was washed out, and Namibia vs. Oman, which went to a Super Over after a low-scoring affair. There's limited information that can be drawn from these matches, especially on a smaller ground. This raises the obvious question: Can Indian spinners handle the conditions? Having been accustomed to playing on smaller grounds in the IPL, they should be. But then this is a World Cup final. Another point of note is how Indian batsmen handle their fast bowlers and how can they pair up their left-handers to take on the South African spinners?

But Dravid said they will try to control the controllables. "It's just about all the guys getting into ensuring that physically, mentally, tactically we are ready for the game. Those are the things that we can control - that we are fresh, that we have looked after all our niggles if there are any, we have done all our tactical preparation and they are mentally relaxed and excited and looking forward to the game," the coach, who will exit the Indian team after the final, said in a tone of pragmatism that has been a hallmark of his tenure.

Teams watch

India

Tactics & matchups: Pacers have had more success than spinners in Barbados in this World Cup but India are unlikely to tinker with their three-prong spin attack. Left-arm orthodox of Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja might prove useful against Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram, who have been dismissed by this bowling variety seven times combined in T20Is since 2022. Kuldeep has also had success against de Kock in T20s, having dismissed him twice in 20 deliveries. Arshdeep Singh matches up well against the opener as well, with three dismissals in 32 deliveries for only 31 runs. Hardik Pandya has had success against his former Gujarat Titans teammate David Miller, having accounted for his wicket four times.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah

South Africa

Tactics & matchups: Kagiso Rabada, South Africa's premier pacer, will be key up front for the first-time finalists as he has accounted for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli four times each in T20s, with the two openers having strike rates of 118.42 and 106.25 respectively against him. Rabada has also dismissed Suryakumar Yadav three times but has gone for 126 runs in 68 balls (batting SR of 185.29). Anrich Nortje has bowled well against Kohli, dismissing him three times in 33 balls for only 35 runs. Keshav Maharaj could prove useful against Rishabh Pant, having dismissed him twice in eight balls.

Probable XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi

Form guide

India WWWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)

South Africa WWWWW

When: Saturday, June 29 2024 at 20:00 IST, 10:00 Local Time

Where: Kensginton Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

Stats and trivia

• This is only the seventh T20 World Cup match between India and South Africa. The first four squeeze into a five-year time-frame between 2007 and 2012.
• Never has this tournament yielded a champion who has remained unbeaten. That's about to change.
• There isn't a lot to separate India and South Africa on bowling metrics: 56 wickets at an average of 15.21 and economy rate of 6.42 vs 59 wickets at an average of 15.23 and economy rate of 5.95
• But the batting is a different story. India average 25.80 and strike at 132.13 with six fifty-plus scores. South Africa average 21.90 and strike at 106.14 with three fifty-plus scores

Quotes

"You know, I don't really believe in this 'Do it for somebody'. I love that quote about somebody asking somebody else, 'Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?' and he says 'I want to climb Mount Everest because it's there'. I want to win this World Cup because it's there. It's not for anyone, it's not for anybody, it's just there to win"

India coach Rahul Dravid about the #DoItForDravid campaign

"It's a game of cricket. Someone has to win, and someone has to lose ultimately. That's the name of the game. You take it in your stride. You do get belief, though, from winning close games and potentially winning games that you thought you weren't going to win. It does a lot for your changing room and the vibe in the changing room."

South Africa captain Aiden Markram about coming to the final after winning a bunch of close games

Did you know?

- This is the first instance of two unbeaten teams facing off in a T20 World Cup final. The last instance of a team having an unbeaten run throughout a Men's ICC tournament was the Champions Trophy in 2013 which India won

- This is the third ICC tournament final for India under Rohit Sharma in a little over 12 months - in three different formats. He could also become the first to 50 wins as a T20I captain

- Aiden Markram has a 100 percent success rate as a captain in ICC tournaments. Under his captaincy South Africa won six out of six in the Under 19 World Cup in 2014, he led them to two wins in the 2023 World Cup standing in for Temba Bavuma, and the unbeaten run in the 2024 T20 World Cup

- The last time India and South Africa met in a knockout game in an ICC tournament was the T20 World Cup 2014 semi-final in Mirpur. Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls to guide India to a six-wicket win in that game.

HEAD TO HEAD - LAST 5 MATCHES

India won by 106 runs 15-Dec-2023

South Africa won by 5 wickets (with 7 balls remaining) (DLS method) 13-Dec-2023

Match abandoned without a ball bowled 11-Dec-2023

South Africa won by 5 wickets (with 2 balls remaining) 30-Oct-2022

South Africa won by 49 runs 05-Oct-2022