Cricket

The stage is set for an epic clash at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, as India and South Africa face off in the final of the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Both teams have navigated a challenging tournament, and now they stand on the cusp of history.India, led by Rohit Sharma, is seeking its second T20 World Cup title, while South Africa, captained by Aiden Markram, is chasing its first major ICC trophy. The Proteas have overcome adversity throughout their campaign, shedding the unwanted "chokers" tag.The pitch report suggests a dry surface with a short boundary on one side. Seamer-friendly conditions are expected, with pacers likely to find it difficult to hit down the ground.India has opted to bat first after winning the toss. The team remains unchanged from its previous match, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav forming the core of the batting lineup. South Africa has also fielded an unchanged XI, with Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, and David Miller leading the charge.The weather conditions are favorable for play, with bright and sunny skies. However, the possibility of rain remains, and a reserve day has been allocated.India has been dominant throughout the tournament, with straightforward victories in most of its matches. South Africa, on the other hand, has faced tougher challenges but has found ways to pull through.Both teams have faced formidable opponents, and the final promises to be a thrilling contest. India will look to its experienced players to guide them to victory, while South Africa will rely on its newfound resilience and determination.The match will be a test of both teams' adaptability and ability to handle pressure. The team that executes its plans better and remains calm under pressure will emerge victorious.

Amidst the ongoing T20 World Cup, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has criticized the accusations of favoritism towards India by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Butt argues that India's success in reaching the final is a result of their superior cricket and professionalism.Butt dismisses the claims of ICC bias, stating that India's performance on the field has been exceptional. He highlights the team's clarity of roles and professionalism, which have contributed to their consistent success across formats.In contrast, Butt points to Pakistan's lack of planning and organization. He cites the team's botched up scheduling ahead of next year's Champions Trophy as an example of their haphazard approach.Butt emphasizes that India's success should not be attributed to favoritism but rather to their hard work and dedication. He urges Pakistan to adopt a more positive mindset and acknowledge India's achievements.Butt's comments come in response to criticism from former England captain Michael Vaughan and Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq, who have accused the ICC of favoring India. Inzamam specifically alleged that India was "working on the ball" to generate reverse swing during the tournament.However, Butt maintains that India's success is a result of their superior cricket and professionalism. He believes that Pakistan should focus on improving their own game rather than making excuses.

Rahul Dravid, the former Indian cricket captain, is set to step down as the team's head coach after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final between India and South Africa. Dravid has been at the helm of the Indian team for the past two and a half years, and his tenure has been marked by both success and challenges.In a recent interview, Dravid reflected on his coaching journey and shared his thoughts on the experience. He said that coaching the Indian Cricket Team has been a great learning experience for him and his family. He also stated that he will take back the connections that he has built during his tenure."I've really enjoyed myself. I think it's been a great learning experience for me and my family as well. I think everyone's got invested in the Indian team over the last two and a half years. I certainly have, obviously, being here. But so has my family in each and every result that the Indian team has been part of. So it's been really nice for me as well to see how my two young boys have taken to it. The kind of people that I've had the pleasure of working with, my coaching staff, the people who I've worked closely with," said Dravid."I know there have been results and we've had some really good results in this time, we've had some times where it's not been that easy. And that's part and parcel of being a coach and being a cricket team. But for me, I think the fondest memories that I'll take back is the connections that I've built, the friendships that I've built. That'll last long after I forget and remember some of these good results or bad results," Dravid added.India came close on a couple of occasions to ending their hiatus of lifting an ICC World Cup trophy. After their success in 2011, India came lost the 2014 T20 World Cup final. In 2016, the West Indies thumped them in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. In 2023, Australia toppled India to lift their record-extending sixth ODI World Cup trophy.India have a chance to finally end the wait to get their hands on the coveted prize if they defeat South Africa in the final of the tournament. With South Africa also not having lost a match, the T20 World Cup final will be a clash between the two unbeaten sides of the tournament.

Virat Kohli, the talismanic Indian batter, has been a consistent performer in high-stakes matches, according to former England cricketer Nasser Hussain. Despite a disappointing T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, Hussain believes Kohli's ability to deliver in crucial games remains unquestionable.Kohli's performance in the 2022 T20 World Cup against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is a testament to his big-match temperament. With India struggling, Kohli stepped up and played a match-winning knock, showcasing his ability to rise to the occasion.Hussain emphasized that Kohli's struggles in the ongoing tournament can be attributed to the challenging pitches in New York. However, he believes that the 35-year-old's class and experience will shine through in the future."I personally think Virat Kohli should bat like he's batted over the last decade. He's got a strike rate of 138. He can be the glue, the rock, you know, they all bat around, and they all come in playing their shots. You cannot doubt Kohli as a player. You cannot doubt him in a big match," Hussain said.Kohli's importance to the Indian team is evident in their dominant run in the tournament. They have defeated formidable opponents like Australia, Pakistan, and England, showcasing their all-around strength.In contrast, South Africa has had a more challenging path to the final. They have narrowly escaped defeat on several occasions, including against Bangladesh, Nepal, and the West Indies.As India and South Africa prepare to face off in the final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, Kohli's experience and ability to perform under pressure will be crucial for the Men in Blue.

Unbeaten India and South Africa, two formidable cricketing nations, are poised to clash in the highly anticipated T20 World Cup final at the iconic Kensington Oval. Both teams have showcased exceptional performances throughout the tournament, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown.India, led by the enigmatic Rohit Sharma, has been a dominant force in the Caribbean. They have effortlessly dispatched every opponent they have faced, including cricketing giants like Australia, Pakistan, and England. Their comprehensive victories have been a testament to their well-rounded squad and unwavering determination.South Africa, under the leadership of Aiden Markram, has also displayed resilience and skill. Despite facing close calls against Bangladesh and Nepal in the group stage, they have managed to overcome adversity and reach the final. Their narrow escape against the West Indies in the Super 8 stage further highlighted their ability to perform under pressure.The contrasting journeys of India and South Africa have added an intriguing dimension to the final. India's dominance has made them the favorites, but South Africa's fighting spirit and ability to overcome challenges cannot be underestimated.For India, the T20 World Cup final represents an opportunity to break the semi-final jinx that has haunted them in previous ICC tournaments. Head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma will be eager to guide their team to victory and etch their names in cricketing history.South Africa, on the other hand, will be looking to play the role of spoilers and deny India a triumphant end to their tournament. They will be determined to avenge their heartbreaking losses to Australia in the ODI World Cup and World Test Championship.The absence of Australia, who have often been India's nemesis in major tournaments, adds a unique twist to the final. India will be relieved to not face their arch-rivals, but South Africa will be equally motivated to prove their worth against the tournament favorites.As the two teams prepare to take the field at Kensington Oval, the stage is set for an unforgettable encounter. India's dominance and South Africa's resilience will collide in a battle that promises to deliver excitement, drama, and a fitting conclusion to the T20 World Cup.

Chris Gayle, the legendary West Indies batsman and T20 World Cup ambassador, has attributed the low-scoring matches in the USA leg of the tournament to "jet-lagged and tired" pitches. According to the ICC, drop-in pitches were prepared in Florida since late December, employing proprietary techniques honed over a decade at Adelaide Oval in Australia.The drop-in pitches were transported from Florida to New York in semi-trailer trucks for installation at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, which proved to be one of the most difficult wickets for batting during the tournament. "It's been a low-scoring World Cup without a doubt, and the wicket is on the slower side sometime. It's a batting format... going to give bowlers edge from time to time, bowlers pretty much in control of T20 World Cup," Gayle said during a press conference on Friday.The tournament will conclude with the final between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Barbados. "Barbados has been one of the best for batting, hope batters are going to get some runs tomorrow. "We want to see better surface but the wicket in States was a bit jet-lagged as well, as we know. It was tired, all that travel from Australia, didn't get time to recover properly. That's why we had some low-scoring games," Gayle added.The development of the pitches was undertaken by Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions, led by renowned Adelaide Oval head curator Damian Hough. The drop-in square - the type used around the world including at Adelaide Oval and Eden Park - was curated in Florida and transported by road to New York via a convoy of more than 20 semi-trailer trucks in April.The matches in New York took place at a state-of-the-art 34,000-seat modular stadium located at Eisenhower Park in Nassau County, east of Manhattan. The former West Indies captain lauded the ICC for efforts to promote the game in mainland America. "The ICC did a fantastic job, the trophy tour, did well to promote the game within the US. They have taken the trophy to the football games, baseball games, they have done a very good job from the marketing point of view," Gayle said.Coming back to the big-ticket title clash, Gayle said lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah could decide India's fate against South Africa. Inaugural edition winners India and first-time finalists South Africa will battle it out at the Kensington Oval in their bid to be crowned the world champions in the game's shortest format. "India are going to be so hard to beat. They bat so deep and in Jasprit Bumrah, have a world-class death bowler who can break the hearts of the opponents," Gayle wrote in a column for the ICC."In contrast, I picked South Africa as a dark horse before the tournament began, and it is very special to see them finally reach their first final after so many semi-final upsets. "Getting over the hump and winning a World Cup is so special and if they can do it, it will create memories that will last a lifetime for the players and the nation." The final pits two undefeated teams with India seeking to reclaim the trophy they last won in the 2007 edition, and South Africa seeking to etch their name on a senior World Cup trophy for the first time. Gayle found it tough to predict a winner. "It is going to be so hard to call – with two teams who have played clean and aggressive cricket throughout the tournament," he said. "We have a final fit for the occasion."

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, stands on the cusp of a historic milestone as his team prepares to face South Africa in the T20 World Cup final on Saturday. With just six runs separating him from surpassing Virat Kohli's record of 1,216 runs, Rohit Sharma is poised to become the highest run-getter in T20 World Cup history. This achievement would coincide with India's potential triumph in the tournament, marking their first T20 World Cup title under Sharma's leadership.Rohit Sharma's impressive T20 World Cup record boasts 1,211 runs, including 248 runs in the ongoing edition. His consistent performances have yielded 12 half-centuries and a century across the tournaments. In the recent matches, he has played a pivotal role with two crucial fifties against Australia and England, making him the third-highest run-scorer in this tournament.Under Sharma's guidance, India has reached their third consecutive ICC final in less than 13 months. Despite falling short against Australia in the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup finals, India has remained unbeaten in this tournament, showcasing their resilience and skill under Sharma's leadership.The final on Saturday presents India with an opportunity to end their 11-year-long ICC title drought, with their last victory coming in the 2013 Champions Trophy. Rohit Sharma aims to join MS Dhoni as the second Indian captain to lift the T20 World Cup trophy.

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 cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has received high praise from former England captain Nasser Hussain, who lauded his batting prowess and leadership qualities. Hussain described Sharma as an "iron fist in a velvet glove," highlighting his calm demeanor and ability to balance authority with compassion.Sharma's leadership style has been a key factor in India's recent success, with the team winning the Asia Cup and reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup under his guidance. Hussain believes that Sharma's ability to create a positive and supportive environment has been crucial to the team's performance."Rohit is like that iron fist in a velvet glove," Hussain said. "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."Hussain also praised Sharma's batting, noting his consistency and ability to score runs in all formats of the game. Sharma is currently the third-highest run scorer in the T20 World Cup, with 248 runs in seven matches."I have been a fan of Rohit for a very long time, as a batter, as a captain, and as a person," Hussain said. "He seems to have a very calming influence."Sharma's leadership and batting skills have made him one of the most respected players in world cricket. His ability to inspire his teammates and perform under pressure has been instrumental in India's recent success.