The final of the T20 World Cup 2024 will see India take on South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, on Saturday, June 29.
Both teams have been in stunning form in the run up to the World Cup final, having gone un-beaten throughout the tournament thus far. India have beaten the likes of Australia, England and Pakistan to reach the final.
On the other hand, South Africa were equally impressive as they beat both England and the co-hosts West Indies during the Super 8 stages, and an in-form Afghanistan team in the semi-finals, to secure their spot in the World Cup final.
The two teams had also met during last year’s ODI World Cup, in which India handed South Africa a whopping 243-ru defeat after bundling them out for just 83 runs. Given the form of both teams throughout the tournament, it is expected to be an interesting encounter.
Ahead of the marquee clas, The Sporting News takes a look at the expected lineups, head-to-head, live toss, prediction and betting odds between the two teams.
The two teams have faced each other 26 times in T20I cricket since 2007, and India have had greater success, winning 14 matches compared to South Africa’s 11 wins, with 1 No Result.
Predicted lineups India 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 Playing XI:
Quinton de Kock (WK), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (C), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi
Prediction
South Africa has won three out of their last four T20I matches against India. The two teams will be equally poised come the World Cup final, having dominated their oppositions, to remain unbeaten throughout the tournament.
It is going to be an entertaining match as both teams possess quality players in all compartments, but South Africa has a slightly more reliable unit of finishers. They key battle, however, will be in the powerplay, between the top-order batters and the fast bowlers of the two teams.
Since this is a day game, the two wrist spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Tabraiz Shamsi will play an important role in the middle overs, especially in the second innings. The team that wins the toss will look to bat first at this venue.—Agencies
