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India Vs SA Final: When and Where to watch
The match is set to start at 10:30 am local time (8 pm IST). You can stream it via Hotstar or catch the live action on Star Sports - for English, tune in Star Sports 1 HD and SD channel, and for Hindi switch on Star Sports 3 channels.India Vs SA Final: Pitch Report
The pitch at Kensington Oval has favored pace bowlers more than spinners. Fast bowlers have taken 59 wickets at an average of 20.22, while spinners have claimed 32 wickets at an average of 26.40. Pacers have been slightly less economical, conceding 7.88 runs per over compared to the spinners' 7.28.The surface is generally good for batting, but seamers might find some assistance with the new ball in the early morning conditions. The last match played here, between the United States and England, featured almost equal boundary lengths (64m and 62m) with a straight boundary of 74m.
Read: India vs South Africa T20 WC Final Live Score
India Vs SA Final: Weather Forecast
As per weather forecast, there are chances of rain with 44 per cent probability in the morning and 46 per cent in the afternoon. There's 99 per cent cloud cover in Barbados. Fortunately, there's a reserve day for the final. So if rain interrupts the match today, it can be played on June 30. India Vs SA Final: Playing XI
India is unlikely to change the composition of the winning team and Rohit Sharma will most likely retain the Playing XI. India's journey has been marked by consistency and dominance. They won all their group stage matches against Ireland, Pakistan, and the United States, with one match against Canada being abandoned. In the Super Eight stage, they secured victories over Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Australia. Their semi-final saw a decisive win over England by 68 runs.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.
South Africa also remains unbeaten in the tournament so far and may not change the current team. 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.
India Vs SA Final: Toss Factor
Winning the toss has proven advantageous, with the toss-winning team triumphing in 18 out of 29 completed T20I matches at this venue. Teams have chosen to bat first 13 times, winning 10 of those matches. Conversely, teams 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. Out of eight games, captains have elected to bat first three times, winning one, and opted to chase five times, winning three.
The 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, the team batting first has had a significant advantage at this venue, winning 19 out of 29 completed T20Is. However, the last two matches here were won by teams chasing.
India Vs SA Final: Team India
India, currently ranked number one in T20 world rankings, previously won the championship in 2007. The team is coached by Rahul Dravid and led by captain Rohit Sharma. Key players include Suryakumar Yadav, the second-ranked T20 batter, and Axar Patel, the eighth-ranked bowler.
Since the 2013 Champions Trophy, India has faced repeated near-misses in ICC events, often coming close but falling short of victory.
Many Indian cricket fans vowed to stop watching after November 19, 2023, but the irresistible charm of the sport always brings them back. The Indian team's performances reignite hope and dreams for better outcomes.
Saturday at Kensington Oval promises to be another such day. Rohit Sharma and his team entered this World Cup with determination and a clear strategy. They maintained a steady pace through the United States leg and the Super-8s, focusing on consistent performance.
Virat Kohli hasn't been scoring much, Shivam Dube hasn't made a significant impact, and even Ravindra Jadeja is not at his best. However, the team management has adhered to a strategy tailored for West Indies conditions, and it has been effective.
Rohit understands that West Indies pitches can be advantageous for his spinners, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Jadeja, to restrict any batting lineup to below 160 runs. Additionally, Jasprit Bumrah's form has been exceptional. In his nine years of international cricket, Bumrah has never looked more unplayable.
With Bumrah's four overs often yielding just 15 runs and taking a couple of wickets, India effectively turns matches into 18-over contests. Opponents are forced to attack the other bowlers, but the left-arm spin trio is too skilled for such tactics.
India Vs SA Final: Team South Africa
South Africa, ranked fifth in T20 world rankings, has reached the semi-finals twice before, in 2009 and 2014. The team is coached by Rob Walter and captained by Aiden Markram, their top-ranked batter at eighth position. Anrich Nortje, ranked ninth among bowlers, spearheads their bowling attack.
There's a twist in the tale when it comes to South Africa in the final. Like India, South Africa prefers to bat first. Despite their dominance so far, their strength lies in their explosive top-order, featuring IPL stars like Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, and David Miller.
While many teams have been cautious about batting first against India, South Africa is likely to choose to bat if they win the toss. The last time this happened was against the United States, where chasing 110 wasn't straightforward for India.
India also prefers to bat first to put pressure on South Africa. The Proteas' pace attack is formidable, and it's crucial for Kohli to score runs 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," said Rohit, expressing confidence in his long-time teammate.
South Africa's path to the final included victories over Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Bangladesh, and Nepal in the group stage. In the Super Eight, they defeated the United States, England, and the West Indies. They secured their place in the final by defeating Afghanistan by nine wickets in the semi-final.
India Vs SA Final: Head-to-Head
India: 14 wins
South Africa: 11 wins
No Result: 1 match
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