ICC T20 World Cup: India, South Africa Ready for T20 World Cup Final Showdown at Kensington Oval

Reported By Varad Bhatkhande

Barbados, 29th June 2024: India and South Africa are set to clash in the much-anticipated T20 World Cup final at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, today. The match will commence at 10:30 am local time (8 pm IST). Both teams have shown outstanding form throughout the tournament, making this a highly competitive showdown for the prestigious title.

Pitch Report for the Final

The pitch at Kensington Oval tends to favour pace bowlers more than spinners. Fast bowlers have taken 59 wickets at an average of 20.22, while spinners have managed 32 wickets at an average of 26.40. Pacers have a slightly higher economy rate, conceding 7.88 runs per over compared to the spinners’ 7.28. While the surface is generally favourable for batting, seamers might find some early assistance with the new ball due to morning conditions. The previous match at this venue, between the United States and England, featured almost equal boundary lengths (64m and 62m) with a straight boundary of 74m.

Toss Factor Analysis

Winning the toss has often been advantageous at Kensington Oval, with the toss-winning team emerging victorious in 18 out of 29 completed T20I matches. Teams choosing to bat first have won 10 out of 13 matches, whereas those opting to bowl first have won 8 out of 19 matches. In the current tournament, the toss-winning team has won 3 out of 6 matches that produced a result. Captains have chosen to bat first in three instances, winning one, and to chase in five instances, winning three.

Kensington Oval has hosted eight matches in this tournament, with six resulting in a definite outcome. Teams batting first and second have each won three games, with one match ending in a tie. The ground has the third-highest scoring rate in the tournament, with runs coming at 7.78 per over, trailing only the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St. Lucia and the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. Historically, teams batting first have had a significant advantage at this venue, winning 19 out of 29 completed T20Is. However, the most recent two matches here were won by teams chasing.

Team India Overview

Ranked as the number one T20 team globally, India previously clinched the championship in 2007. Under the guidance of coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, the team boasts key players like Suryakumar Yadav, the second-ranked T20 batter, and Axar Patel, the eighth-ranked bowler. India has faced numerous near-misses in ICC events since their 2013 Champions Trophy win, often reaching the final stages but falling short of securing the title. Despite some fans’ frustration leading them to vow not to watch cricket after the sports tragedy on 19th November 2023, the allure of the sport continues to captivate, bringing them back to cheer for the team.

This Saturday’s match at Kensington Oval promises to be another thrilling chapter. Rohit Sharma and his squad entered the World Cup with determination and a clear strategy, navigating the United States leg and the Super-8s with consistent performance. Though Virat Kohli has been struggling with form, and Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja haven’t made significant impacts, the team management has adhered to a strategy tailored for West Indies conditions, proving effective. Rohit Sharma recognizes that West Indies pitches can benefit his spinners—Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Jadeja—in restricting opponents to scores below 160 runs. Additionally, Jasprit Bumrah’s form has been exceptional; in his nine years of international cricket, he has never looked more unplayable. Bumrah’s four-over spells, often yielding just 15 runs and a couple of wickets, effectively turn matches into 18-over contests for the opponents. Forced to attack the other bowlers, they find the left-arm spin trio too skilled to exploit.

Indian Squad: Rohit Sharma ©, 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.

India’s Journey to the Final
India’s path to the final has been marked by consistency and dominance. They emerged victorious in all their group-stage matches against Ireland, Pakistan, and the United States, with one match against Canada abandoned. In the Super Eight stage, they secured wins over Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Australia. Their semi-final saw a decisive win over England by 68 runs.

Team South Africa Overview

Ranked fifth in the T20 world rankings, South Africa has previously reached the semi-finals in 2009 and 2014. Coached by Rob Walter and captained by Aiden Markram, their top batter ranked eighth, the team features Anrich Nortje, ranked ninth among bowlers, leading their bowling attack. South Africa’s approach in the final adds an interesting twist. Similar to India, they prefer to bat first. Their strength lies in their explosive top-order, featuring IPL stars such as Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, and David Miller.

While many teams hesitate to bat first against India, South Africa is expected to opt for batting if they win the toss. This strategy was evident in their match against the United States, where India faced challenges chasing a target of 110. India also prefers to bat first to apply pressure on South Africa. The Proteas’ pace attack is formidable, making it crucial for Virat Kohli to perform well in this game. “We understand his class. Form isn’t an issue when you’ve played for 15 years. He’s probably saving his best for the final,” Rohit Sharma said, showing confidence in his long-time teammate.

Squad: Aiden Markram, 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.

South Africa’s Journey to the Final
South Africa’s road to the final has been marked by victories over Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Bangladesh, and Nepal in the group stage. In the Super Eight stage, they secured wins against the United States, England, and the West Indies. Their semi-final saw a dominant performance, defeating Afghanistan by nine wickets to reach the final.

India has a slight edge over South Africa with 14 wins to South Africa’s 11 in their head-to-head T20I matches, with one game ending without a result.