India and South Africa are all set to be up against each other in the Final of the T20 World Cup 2024 on Saturday, June 29 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. The match has a historical significance as it for the first time that both finalists of the mega event are unbeaten. The Proteas will also play in their maiden ICC World Cup final after breaking their semi-final jinx.
South Africa had lost 7 semi-finals in ICC events since 1992. But they broke free of the mental block after beating Afghanistan by 9 wickets in the first semi-final at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. Dale Steyn, who has faced heartbreaks over the years in knockout matches, got the best gift on his 41st birthday after the Proteas dominated the Afghans in the crunch match.
But South Africa have their task cut out as India have been in stupendous form. The Men in Blue are yet to drop a match in the tournament and have most of their bases covered. Rohit Sharma has led them from the front as he is their leading run-scorer in the tournament. Rohit has batted with a lot of intent of late and laid the platform for India with his aggressive stroke-play.
Rohit also became the most successful skipper in T20Is after going past Pakistan’s Babar Azam. In the semi-final against England at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, India looked as their very best after winning the match by 68 runs. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav were the wreckers in chief as they picked up 3 wickets apiece. Jasprit Bumrah was again stupendous after he got the prized wicket of Phil Salt.
India have played in several knockout matches at ICC events but have not won any title since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013. The conditions have mostly been in their favour, and they will be looking to finish the tournament unbeaten with another dominating show.
India: It is highly unlikely that India are going to make any changes to their playing XI after how they played against England. Although Shivam Dube is yet to be at his very best, but India are most likely to persist with him. Mohammed Siraj may end up warming the bench for the grand finale. Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav will keep being their key in the spin attack.
Predicted 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: The Proteas are also unlikely to tinker with their playing XI. Their fast bowling trio of Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen are expected to play an important role against the power-packed Indian batting unit. Tabraiz Shamsi has been amongst the wickets and he may stay as Keshav Maharaj’s partner in the spin department.
Predicted 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
