By Rex Clementine
After a month-long intense rivalry between 20 teams, the eyes of the cricketing world will firmly be in Barbados as we see who will be crowned world champions. Both India and South Africa have been sensational in the competition having remained unbeaten in the tournament. A win for either team will be celebrated by everyone who loves this beautiful game.
For South Africa, they have never won a World Cup in the history. In fact, this is their first World Cup final. For India they have reached the finals of several ICC events since 2011 but have failed to clear the last hurdle.
South Africa have cracked under pressure playing big games before but in this tournament, they have held their nerve overcoming some tensed moments.
Rohit Sharma has been in cracking form for India and so has been Suryakumar Yadav. Hardik Pandya doesn’t get much time out in the middle, but he has made an impact from the little time he gets to bat. India will be counting on their former captain Virat Kohli, who has made just 75 runs after seven innings and has failed to get going.
Both Rohit (37) and Kohli (35) may not be around when India and Sri Lanka host the next edition of the T-20 World Cup in 2026 and they will be keen to go out on a high.
It is unlikely India will do any changes with the side clicking so well.
As for South Africa, they have a few options to think about, but for a big final they would want to go with the current flow.
Kuldeep Yadav has been a sensation for India with his left-arm wrist spin and so has been Tabraiz Shamsi for South Africa. He too has featured in only four games but has produced 11 wickets.
Pace has been South Africa’s key for success. Kagiso Rabada with 12 wickets and Anrich Nortje with 13 wickets have bowled some unplayable spells and if South Africa were to lay their hands to their first ever World Cup trophy, how they go about in the finals will matter.
These teams have met on 25 occasions in T-20 Internationals and India have an edge over South Africa having won 14 games. They have featured in six games in T-20 World Cups over the years and India has won four of those games.
Barbados has produced some thrilling contests over the last month and fans will be hoping that the grand final will be another cracking game in front of a sellout crowd.
