Cricket

India's head coach Rahul Dravid has expressed optimism about the team's chances of winning the T20 World Cup, citing their consistent performance in reaching three ICC finals within the past year. Dravid believes that a combination of intelligent gameplay and good fortune will enable India to secure a long-awaited ICC championship.Throughout the current T20 World Cup, India has demonstrated their superiority, mirroring their performance in the ODI World Cup held in their home country the previous year. However, in that tournament, they stumbled at the final obstacle against Australia.Rohit Sharma and his team are now set to face South Africa in the final at Barbados' Kensington Oval. They are determined to clinch a ICC title, a feat they last achieved during the 2013 Champions Trophy."It is a good thing we have been consistently playing good cricket. We have been in finals in all three formats and credit goes to the players. If we play well and rub of the green goes (our way) we will surely win," Dravid said.Despite the swift journey from Guyana to Barbados following their semifinal victory against England, Dravid expressed confidence in the team's mental readiness for the upcoming contest."In terms of our preparation, we've just got one day in the middle, so it's unlikely we're going to be having practice. It's just about all the guys getting into ensuring that physically, mentally, tactically we are ready for the game."Dravid emphasized his team's readiness for the crucial encounter at the top. "Those are the things that we can control, that we are fresh, that we've looked after all our niggles, if there are any. We've done all our tactical preparation and we're mentally relaxed and excited and looking forward to the game."In 2023, India suffered two devastating losses in ICC finals. They were defeated by Australia in both the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the ODI World Cup final. Dravid believes that the team has learned from these heartbreaking experiences."No, nothing. I thought we were very well-prepared in Ahmedabad (ODI WC). We ticked all the boxes and, on that day, the other team played better. That's part of the sport. The other team that's coming there to play has also obviously reached the final because they're a good team and they're playing very good cricket as well. So, they have as much right to win it as we do, but we hope that we'll play better cricket on the day," he said.Dravid also praised the team's collective effort in preparing for this prestigious event, highlighting their ability to adapt to various situations. He acknowledged the hard work put in by the entire squad leading up to the tournament."I think what's really important is that we've done really well as a group. This whole tournament we have shown the ability to adapt, to recognize what is a good score. We played very differently in New York, then we played in St. Lucia, then we played even in Barbados when I thought that the game was quite slow.""I'm just hoping that whatever we come up against, we will have the ability to recognize it and be able to play accordingly, as we've done in the last three games," said Dravid.

South Africa's sloppy fielding on the opening day of the one-off Test against India in Chennai on Friday highlighted the team's lack of preparation and attention to detail. The Proteas committed several uncharacteristic errors, including misfields, an unnecessary overthrow, and wayward deliveries down the leg side.The most glaring mistake came from Masabata Klaas, who threw a wild overthrow after Smriti Mandhana knocked a full delivery back to her. The ball sailed over the keeper's head and to the boundary, gifting India four extra runs.Other fielding lapses included a dropped catch by Laura Wolvaardt at slip and a misfield by Anneke Bosch at mid-off. These errors allowed India to build partnerships and put pressure on the South African bowlers.The Proteas' sloppy fielding was compounded by some wayward bowling. Shabnim Ismail, who is known for her accuracy, bowled several deliveries down the leg side, giving India's batters easy scoring opportunities.South Africa's fielding coach, Delmi Tucker, admitted that the team's performance in the field was below par. "It was really hot out there and tough," she said. "Definitely, we could be better on the field. Seeing an overthrow in most fields is not the best. But it's happening. I think with the overthrow, it's just staying positive, keeping everyone alive, just getting it back to the keeper. It just keeps you sharp. But yes, we can be better at it."The Proteas' fielding woes are a major concern, especially considering that they are playing in India, where the conditions are known to be challenging for fielders. If South Africa wants to compete in this Test match, they will need to improve their fielding significantly.

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly has lauded Rohit Sharma's captaincy skills, attributing them to India's undefeated streak in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Ganguly urged the team to approach the final against South Africa with an unrestrained mindset, aiming to end an 11-year drought without an ICC title.Ganguly praised Rohit's leadership qualities, highlighting his record of winning five IPL titles and his ability to lead India to two World Cup finals while remaining unbeaten. He believes that Rohit's hesitation to assume the captaincy initially has been overcome, and he has now become a confident and effective leader.Ganguly acknowledged that winning the IPL can be more challenging due to its extended length, but emphasized that the honor of winning a World Cup is greater. He expressed confidence in India's ability to secure the title, citing their dominant performance throughout the tournament.Despite India's near misses in major tournaments since their 2013 Champions Trophy triumph, Ganguly remains optimistic. He believes that reaching the finals is a positive sign, and that India's consistent dominance in the competition makes them the favorites.Ganguly also commented on South Africa's historic achievement of reaching the World Cup final for the first time since their reintegration into international cricket. He acknowledged the significance of this moment for South African cricket.Regarding Virat Kohli's average performance in the tournament, Ganguly believes that he should continue opening the batting. He emphasized that Kohli's past achievements and status as an institution for Indian cricket should not be diminished by a few poor matches.Ganguly dismissed claims that the ICC has given India an advantage by selecting a spin-friendly venue for the semifinal in Guyana. He also rejected allegations that broadcasters have favored India with the 8pm IST time slot for their matches.Ganguly asserted that India's dominance in world cricket is due to their performance, broadcast reach, and financial contributions. He believes that India's strong position in the sport is justified and reflects their status as a major force in international cricket.

The stage is set for an epic clash between India and South Africa in the final of the Men's T20 World Cup 2024. This will be the first time these two teams have met in the final of an ICC tournament, making it a historic occasion for both sides.India and South Africa have both been in impressive form throughout the tournament, remaining unbeaten and topping their respective groups. South Africa has faced tougher opposition, including a nail-biting win over West Indies in the Super Eight, while India has overcome challenges from Pakistan, Australia, and England.For South Africa, this final represents a chance to make history by winning their first-ever men's World Cup title. They have come close in the past, reaching the semi-finals of five ODI World Cups and two T20 World Cups, but have never reached the final.India, on the other hand, is looking to end a title drought that has lasted since 2013. They won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 but have not won an ICC trophy since then. They came close in 2014, reaching the final of the T20 World Cup, but fell short.The match will be played at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, which has hosted eight matches in the tournament so far. The pitch has been favorable to teams batting first, with three of the first four completed matches won by the chasing team. However, the last two matches have seen comfortable chases by West Indies and England.Wind could be a factor in the final, with gusts predicted at up to 45 kmph. However, it is unlikely to have as much of an impact as it did in Gros Islet during India's match against Australia.Rain is also a possibility, with showers expected throughout the day. There is a 50% chance of precipitation in the morning, decreasing to 30% around the scheduled toss time. However, the forecast improves later in the day, with a 20% chance of rain during match hours.If the match is interrupted by rain, there is a reserve day scheduled for Sunday. However, if the match cannot be completed on either day, both teams will be declared joint-winners.

South Africa's maiden T20 World Cup final berth has been secured after a dominant nine-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the semifinals. Despite the challenging pitch at the Brian Lara Academy stadium, the Proteas' quicks delivered a stellar performance, bowling out Afghanistan for a mere 56 runs.Captain Aiden Markram expressed his relief at not having to play on the same pitch again, acknowledging its unpredictable nature. However, he praised his team's ability to adapt and find a way to win on a difficult surface."It's hard to tell that a wicket is not good because it can't just always be a batter's game," Markram said. "But finding a way to win is probably the most important thing."The Proteas' victory was built on a strong bowling performance, with Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje leading the charge. Afghanistan's batters struggled to cope with the movement and pace, managing only 56 runs in 10.4 overs.Markram highlighted the importance of winning close games in the group and Super Eights stages, which boosted their confidence. He also acknowledged the team's past failures in global events but emphasized that the current squad is focused on the present opportunity."We feel and believe that we can compete with the best in the world and we can win trophies," Markram said. "It's nice for us to now have that opportunity."The Proteas will now face either India or England in the final in Barbados. Markram emphasized the need to adapt to the different conditions and play to their strengths."We'll try to find ways to always take wickets with the ball and from a batting point of view try to get to a score that's defendable," he said. "Both teams have to play on the same wicket."Markram also praised Afghanistan's impressive run in the tournament, acknowledging their talented players and the inspiration they have provided."They have some of the best (players) in the world at the moment," Markram said. "I'm sure it's not going to be the end of them making knockout cricket."

The T20 World Cup semifinals have been marred by inclement weather, with Guyana experiencing heavy rainfall during the India-England clash and Barbados, the venue for the final, facing a similar forecast.India's emphatic 68-run victory over England propelled them into the title match against South Africa, who comfortably defeated Afghanistan in the first semifinal. However, the teams' travel to Bridgetown, Barbados, for the final on June 29th, has raised concerns due to the gloomy weather outlook.Unlike the second semifinal, the final has a reserve day (June 30th) in place. However, the weather forecast for both days is far from ideal. Accuweather.com predicts "cloudy, breezy, and humid" conditions on Saturday (June 29th), with a high probability of showers and thunderstorms, particularly in the early hours. The cloud cover is expected to be 99%.The forecast for the reserve day (June 30th) is equally concerning, with "mostly cloudy and humid" conditions and a likelihood of rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon.The weather conditions could significantly impact the final, potentially forcing delays or even a postponement. The International Cricket Council (ICC) will be closely monitoring the situation and making contingency plans if necessary.Despite the weather concerns, fans remain hopeful that the final will be played in its entirety and that the tournament will conclude with a thrilling and memorable match.

The T20 World Cup 2024 has been plagued by logistical challenges, and the final between South Africa and the West Indies is no exception. A landing failure of a small private aircraft at the Grantley Adams airport in Barbados has stranded the South African team, their families, commentators, match officials, and ICC officials at the Trinidad airport.The Barbados airport was closed for inspections by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Barbados Police Service after the incident. Moments before the South African contingent was set to take off from Trinidad, the pilots received information about the runway closure in Bridgetown."It appeared that the landing gear of the private aircraft did not deploy, but it is currently on the runway at GAIA [Grantley Adams International Airport] safely," said Sharleen Brown, Corporate Communication Specialist with GAIA. She confirmed that all three individuals on board - two passengers and a pilot - were unharmed.Passengers on the flight from Trinidad to Barbados were told the tentative rescheduled time was 4.30pm, which would amount to nearly six hours of delay. All the boarded passengers had to return to the terminal, adding to the many delays endured by teams at the tournament.Sri Lanka had to spend a whole night at the airport when traveling from Florida to New York. Afghanistan, who finished their last Super Eight match in the wee hours of Tuesday, also had their flight delayed before playing their first T20 World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.This is the first time South Africa has made a final of a men's World Cup. The final will be played on Saturday morning, as opposed to the usual tradition of playing on Sundays. That change meant the second semi-final, currently delayed because of inclement weather in Guyana, could not have a reserve day.Despite giving the two semi-finals the same amount of extra time to get a game in, the ICC has used different playing conditions if the matches needed to be shortened.

India and South Africa are set to face off in a highly anticipated Test match in Chennai, marking the return of women's cricket to the city after a long hiatus. Both teams enter the contest with contrasting fortunes and preparations.India, fresh off impressive Test victories against England and Australia, will be confident of extending their dominance. Their spinners, particularly Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana, will be key in the spin-friendly conditions expected at the Chepauk surface. India's batting lineup also boasts depth, with Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Jemimah Rodrigues in fine form.South Africa, on the other hand, face an uphill battle. They suffered an innings defeat against Australia in their only Test of the year and have had limited preparation with the red ball. Captain Laura Wolvaardt, a prolific batter, will be crucial for their hopes. However, their bowling attack lacks experience in Test cricket, with Nonkululeko Mlaba being their only left-arm spin option.Despite South Africa's challenges, India will not take them lightly. The Proteas have a history of upsetting the odds, and their determination to prove themselves on the international stage should not be underestimated.The match will be a test of both teams' adaptability and resilience. India will aim to capitalize on their home advantage and spin-friendly conditions, while South Africa will need to find ways to counter India's formidable bowling attack and post competitive totals.

India's skipper Harmanpreet Kaur emphasizes the significance of the ongoing series against South Africa in preparing for the Women's ODI World Cup next year. The series provides an opportunity for the team to adapt to different home venues and capitalize on familiar conditions.Harmanpreet highlights the importance of gaining experience on various home wickets, as India has limited experience playing at home. She believes this series will boost their confidence and provide valuable insights into the behavior of the wickets and the combinations that can be used for the World Cup.Despite the overcast weather and scattered rain forecast in Chennai, Harmanpreet remains optimistic about the Chepauk track. She notes that it is not entirely different from the wickets in Mumbai, where they played their previous two Tests. The team has been practicing for the last three days, which Harmanpreet believes will be beneficial during the match.Harmanpreet expresses confidence in the team's bowling department, which includes Arundhati Reddy, Smriti Mandhana, and herself. She acknowledges Reddy's versatility and her ability to contribute with the bat as well. Harmanpreet also indicates that she and Mandhana are willing to bowl if necessary.The Indian captain credits head coach Amol Muzumdar for helping her adapt to the Test format, despite her limited experience. She praises the BCCI for its efforts in promoting women's cricket, including the return of red-ball cricket to the domestic calendar.Harmanpreet expresses gratitude for the opportunity to play Test cricket and hopes for a positive result in the upcoming match against South Africa. She believes the team is well-prepared and eager to deliver.