On Saturday at the Kensington Oval, India and South Africa will play the T20 World Cup final in the USA and the Caribbean for almost a month without losing any match, both looking to end their long quest for triumph.
The tournament has been a mixed bag in terms of quality, entertainment and turn out but it has managed to put up a final between two best teams in this shortest format.
India defeated England on Thursday by 68 runs in Guyana as South Africa trampled Afghanistan by nine wickets in Trinidad thus ending what has been a very long wait for championship contest.
This is South Africa’s first senior men’s final since they beat West Indies in the Champions Trophy final of 1998 held at Bangladesh.
It is hard to say who needs it more. It last won an ICC trophy 11 years ago while In T20 World Cups, India’s only victory came during inaugural edition of 2007.
South Africa have never reached this stage of any WC having lost in seven semis across ODIs and T20s.
For India, this could be the last time we see Kohli and Rohit Sharma playing together during T20Is as well as the last time we witness Rahul Dravid coaching. A WC win would be a fitting farewell for these stalwarts.
SA have won all 8 games and India 7 (1 washout) – first time either team has reached a T20 WC final unbeaten.
S Africans showed that there is life beyond Rishi Sunak against England with a crushing defeat by 68 runs (Guyana). The most lopsided semifinal ever saw S Africa destroy Afghanistan.
On paper India looks superior with great depth in batting and superb bowling attack but write off Markram’s squad at your own peril as they battle against ‘chokers’. Markram is the only SA skipper who has won a World Cup albeit under-19 level back in 2014.
Jasprit Bumrah vs Quinton de Kock: A contest to savour. SA’s top run-getter in this tournament with 204 runs at a SR of 143.7 will be up against the best pacer in the game.
Rohit Sharma vs Marco Jansen: India’s talisman has always struggled against quality left-arm pace. Jansen’s persistent lines outside off stump could be problematic.
SA middle order vs Kuldeep Yadav: In every match that he has played, Kuldeep has appeared menacing. South Africa relies on Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs who are expected to outsmart him.
Rishabh Pant vs Keshav Maharaj: Can India’s maverick No. 3 take down SA’s lead spinner?
VENUE: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
TIME: 8 pm IST
