Cricket

T20 World Cup Final: India's Journey from Shattered Dreams to Renewed HopeThe T20 World Cup final is upon us, and with it comes a rollercoaster of emotions for Indian cricket fans. After the heartbreak of November 19, 2023, many had vowed to abandon the sport. However, the allure of cricket is undeniable, and the Indian team has once again ignited the flame of hope in their hearts.Since the 2013 Champions Trophy, India has come tantalizingly close to ICC glory, only to fall short at the final hurdle. This has earned them the unfortunate tag of "chokers," a label that has haunted them for years.The term "chokers" is a cruel one, often used to dismiss the achievements of a team that has consistently performed at the highest level. It implies a lack of mental fortitude, an inability to handle the pressure of big moments.But the Indian team has proven time and again that they are anything but chokers. They have fought back from adversity, overcome challenges, and come within a whisker of victory. Their resilience and determination are a testament to their character and their unwavering belief in themselves.The T20 World Cup final is a chance for India to shed the choker tag once and for all. It is an opportunity to prove that they are not defined by their past failures but by their unwavering spirit and their ability to rise above adversity.Whether India emerges victorious or not, their journey to the final has been an inspiring one. They have shown that even in the face of setbacks, hope can never be extinguished. And as long as there is hope, there is always the possibility of triumph.

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has heaped praise on skipper Rohit Sharma, hailing his leadership qualities and proactive approach. In the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, Rohit has emerged as the tournament's third-highest run-getter, amassing 248 runs at a strike rate of 155.97 in seven matches.Bumrah, in a video shared by the ICC, lauded Rohit's leadership style, particularly his ability to empower his players. "Rohit Sharma has been absolutely phenomenal," Bumrah said. "Even in the previous World Cup, he was very proactive. He gives a lot of freedom to his players, lets them express themselves. When he feels the right time, he shares his own experience during the match. It feels really great and I feel very happy playing under him."Former England captain Nasser Hussain also expressed his admiration for Rohit, describing him as an "iron fist in a velvet glove." Hussain praised Rohit's calming influence and ability to balance authority with empathy. "I have been a fan of Rohit for a very long time," Hussain said. "He seems to have a very calming influence. He is like that iron fist in a velvet glove. You do not mess around with Rohit, but he is also a big brother that will put his arm around you and look after you."India's contrasting fortunes in the tournament compared to South Africa have also been highlighted. While India has dominated every opponent they have faced, including Australia, Pakistan, and England, South Africa has narrowly escaped defeat on several occasions. Bangladesh and Nepal gave them a run for their money in the group stage, and they nearly sealed their exit in their final Super 8 game against the West Indies.The Indian squad for the tournament includes Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, Mohammed Siraj, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Rishabh Pant's remarkable return to cricket has earned him a "wildcard" selection for India's T20 World Cup final against South Africa, according to former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar.After a near-fatal car accident in December 2022, Pant's recovery has been an inspiration to many. The explosive left-handed batter is back in action in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, leading the Delhi Capitals. His impressive performances earned him a call-up to India's 15-man squad for the mega event.In India's opening match of the tournament, Pant showcased his class with a reverse scoop over the wicketkeeper's head for a boundary against Ireland. Manjrekar believes Pant will be the player to watch out for against South Africa on Saturday at Kensington Oval in Barbados."I think we will get a great idea about who the big match player is. I'm going to go with a wildcard and say Rishabh Pant will be the player to watch out for," Manjrekar said on the 'Caught and Bold' show on Disney+ Hotstar.Pant has been promoted to the number three position in the batting order, with Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma opening the innings. Pant has performed admirably in his new role, scoring 171 runs at a strike rate of 129.54 and an average of 28.50 in seven matches.In less than a year, head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit will lead India in their third ICC tournament final. Pant will be eager to make a difference for the Indian team, which is still chasing its first World Cup trophy since 2011.India's hopes of winning the title were dashed by Australia in both the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup. However, Australia will not be a factor this time around, as they were eliminated from the tournament.India sent Australia to the brink of elimination with impressive bowling spells and Rohit's 92-run knock. Afghanistan's historic victory over the cricketing giants left the Baggy Greens stunned before their collapse against India."Losing to Afghanistan... When you have a bad day in a very tough format, you pay the price for it. It was as good a side as India. The two best sides in the tournament were India and Australia," Manjrekar added.

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed confidence in the Indian cricket team's ability to win the T20 World Cup final against South Africa, despite Virat Kohli's recent struggles with form.Kohli, who has been a key player for India in the past, has only managed to score 75 runs in seven matches during the tournament, averaging just 10.71. However, Manjrekar believes that the team's overall performance is more important than individual form."Not really concerned about Virat Kohli's form because the team's form is far more important," Manjrekar said. "India has discovered a new template, the modern template of playing T20 cricket, and it's paying rich dividends so far."India has won all of its matches in the tournament so far, and Manjrekar believes that the team's new approach could lead to a World Cup victory."Of course, India can lift the World Cup 2024," Manjrekar said. "India has discovered a new template, the modern template of playing T20 cricket, and it's paying rich dividends so far."Manjrekar also identified South Africa's fast bowlers and top-order batsmen as potential threats to India in the final."I would say one of the fast bowlers, either Anrich Nortje or Rabada," Manjrekar said. "In batting Quinton De Kock for sure."India will be looking to win its first ICC World Cup since 2011, and Manjrekar believes that the team has a good chance of doing so."India's journey to the final has been marked by a fearless approach under Rohit Sharma's leadership," Manjrekar said. "This newfound strategy could end India's hiatus from ICC World Cup victories."

The highly anticipated T20 World Cup 2024 final between India and South Africa is set to take place on Saturday at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. However, the match is facing a potential threat from rain, with the weather forecast predicting a 51% chance of precipitation.To mitigate the risk of rain interruptions, the ICC has implemented several measures. Firstly, a reserve day (June 30) has been designated in case the match cannot be completed on the scheduled day. According to the ICC's playing conditions for the tournament, every effort will be made to complete the match on the scheduled day, with any necessary reduction in overs. Only if the minimum number of overs required for a match cannot be bowled on the scheduled day will the match be completed on the reserve day.If a full game is not possible, both teams must bat 10 overs to achieve a result. Additionally, an extra 190 minutes have been allocated to get a result on the scheduled day. If play has not resumed by the cut-off time on the scheduled day, the match will resume from the same point on the reserve day, meaning there will be no fresh start.If no play is possible on the scheduled day, the game will begin at the same time it was supposed to on the original day. Importantly, if the overs are reduced on the scheduled day and played before interruption on the same day, it will begin from the same point on the reserve day.For example, if the match starts at 20 overs per side and there is an interruption at 9 overs, the overs may be reduced to 17 overs per side. If play resumes and an over is bowled before another interruption, the match will continue on the reserve day at 17 overs per side, with the overs further reduced if necessary.The ICC's measures aim to ensure that the T20 World Cup final is completed in a fair and timely manner, despite the potential for rain interruptions.

South Africa, a team historically known for crumbling under pressure in major tournaments, has shown remarkable resilience in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Their captain, Aiden Markram, attributes this newfound confidence to their ability to pull off close wins, instilling a belief that victory is possible in any situation.Ahead of the highly anticipated final against India, Markram acknowledged the team's past struggles but emphasized their determination to break free from that burden. He highlighted the team's recent victories over Nepal, Bangladesh, and West Indies, which were all decided by narrow margins."To have done them two, three, maybe four times throughout the competition so far has sort of given the team the belief that you can win from any position," Markram said. "I think that's quite important for a team to have."While India remains the overwhelming favorite, South Africa has several factors in their favor. They are eager to create a new chapter in their cricketing history and are not letting the pressure of the occasion overwhelm them."We're kind of used to it now," Markram said of the team's frequent travel and schedule disruptions. "There's no point sulking around and making it more miserable than what it might already seem to be."Markram also emphasized the team's hunger to win the title, regardless of the result. "I think there's still a massive hunger for us to go out and win tomorrow's game," he said. "We'd love to get to our first final and be able to win that first final."South Africa's newfound confidence and resilience will be put to the ultimate test against a formidable Indian team. However, the Proteas are determined to prove that they are no longer the team that crumbles under pressure and are ready to make history in Barbados.

The Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, is poised to make history as it faces South Africa in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 on Saturday. This marks the second World Cup final for India in just eight months, following their heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed his confidence in Rohit's leadership, stating that he has "gone into the final unbeaten" in both World Cup finals he has played. Ganguly credits Rohit's captaincy and leadership qualities for India's success, highlighting his role in guiding the team to the summit clash.Ganguly also acknowledged the challenges of winning an IPL title, emphasizing that it can sometimes be more difficult due to the tournament's duration. However, he stressed that the honor of winning a World Cup is greater, and he hopes Rohit can lead India to victory."I don't think he can lose two World Cup finals in seven months," Ganguly said. "He will probably jump into the Barbados ocean if he loses two finals under his captaincy in seven months."Ganguly praised Rohit's batting prowess and leadership from the front, expressing his hope that India will play with freedom and finish on the right side. He also acknowledged the importance of luck in winning big tournaments and wished the team well.India has been the dominant force in the T20 World Cup 2024, winning all their matches in the tournament. They will be aiming to extend their unbeaten streak and claim their first ICC title since 2013.

India's T20 World Cup campaign has been a resounding success, with the team remaining undefeated heading into the final against South Africa. Captain Rohit Sharma has been a key contributor with 248 runs, while pacers Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah have been equally impressive with 15 and 13 wickets respectively.However, one area of concern for India has been the form of Virat Kohli, who has managed just 75 runs in seven matches. Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes that Kohli has the potential to turn his fortunes around in the final.Kaif drew parallels between Kohli's current situation and that of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the 2011 ODI World Cup. Dhoni had also struggled for form during the tournament but played a match-winning knock in the final."Virat Kohli needs to remember that even Dhoni didn't have a great World Cup in 2011 but he found form in the final," Kaif said. "He is too good a player to slog, he can play ball on merit and dominate any bowling attack."Kaif suggested that Kohli should focus on playing the ball on merit and avoid slogging. He also emphasized the importance of Kohli playing until the end of the innings."He should play the ball on merit with proper cricket shots, he should not slog by exposing his wickets," Kaif said. "He's a great player. Players like Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav should play fast and Virat Kohli should play till the end the full 20 overs and play the ball on merit."Kohli has been dismissed without scoring twice in this tournament, his worst-ever performance in six T20 World Cups. India will be hoping that he can rediscover his form in the final and help them end their 11-year trophy drought in global cricket competitions.

T20 World Cup Final: Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth to Officiate India vs. South Africa ClashThe stage is set for a thrilling T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the officiating team for the highly anticipated match. Chris Gaffaney of New Zealand and Richard Illingworth of England will take on the roles of on-field umpires, while Richard Kettleborough will serve as the TV umpire. Rod Tucker will be the fourth umpire, and Richie Richardson will act as the match referee.The final will be played at the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados, which previously hosted the T20 World Cup final in 2010. India booked their place in the final with a commanding 68-run victory over defending champions England in the semifinal at Providence, Guyana. South Africa, on the other hand, secured their spot with a dominant nine-wicket triumph over Afghanistan at Tarouba, Trinidad.Chris Gaffaney is a highly experienced umpire with over 100 international matches to his credit. He has officiated in numerous high-profile matches, including the 2019 Cricket World Cup final. Richard Illingworth is another seasoned umpire with over 80 international matches under his belt. He has also officiated in several major tournaments, including the 2015 Cricket World Cup.Richard Kettleborough is a respected TV umpire with over 50 international matches to his name. He has been involved in some of the most controversial decisions in recent cricket history, including the infamous "Mankad" incident in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Rod Tucker is a former Australian cricketer who has transitioned into umpiring. He has officiated in over 40 international matches and is known for his calm and composed demeanor.Richie Richardson is a former West Indies cricketer who has served as a match referee in over 100 international matches. He is highly respected in the cricket community and is known for his fair and impartial approach.The officiating team for the T20 World Cup final is a testament to the ICC's commitment to ensuring a fair and competitive match. With experienced and respected umpires and match officials in place, both India and South Africa can be confident that the final will be officiated to the highest standards.