BRIDGETOWN (Barbados): Unbeaten India and South Africa are set to step into the Kensington Oval, looking to write the perfect ending to their story in the T20 World Cup final.
In just about a year, the duo of head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma will play their third final of an ICC tournament. Australia inflicted heartbreak in the ODI World Cup and World Test Championship. But this time, as they look to find the perfect ending, Australia won’t be there to spoil the party.
But Aiden Markram-led South Africa will be waiting for them, looking to play spoilsport and ensure India returns empty-handed despite their dominance.
Both teams have had a contrasting run in the tournament. The Rohit Sharma-led side has dominated each side that they have faced in the tournament, including heavyweights like Australia, Pakistan, and England.
While the Proteas have, on numerous occasions, escaped by a narrow margin en route to the final. Bangladesh and Nepal gave them a run for their money in the group stage. In their final game of the Super 8 against the co-hosts, the West Indies, they almost sealed their exit while chasing the revised target of 123.
They broke the semi-final jinx after hammering Afghanistan in the semi-final at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago.
One thing that has been prominent throughout the games in the Caribbean has been the dominance of spinners. But Kensington Oval has been a surface that has offered more to the pacers. A total of 59 wickets have fallen in their bag at an average of 20.22 and an economy rate of 7.88.
The threat of rain is also looming over the final but a reserve day is in place if the weather gods don’t allow the game to proceed.
Irrespective of the team that emerges victorious, the T20 World Cup has never seen a winner that has gone unbeaten throughout the tournament. So India and South Africa are destined to create history. (ANI)