The Indian cricket team will go up against South Africa in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. In route to the grand finale of the T20 World Cup 2024, South Africa and India have stayed undefeated, showcasing the quality of their squad to its maximum, which could lead to a pulsating contest between these two teams this weekend.
In this article, SportsTiger looks at India’s probable playing XI versus South Africa in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024.
Openers: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, has turned a corner with the bat in the last couple of matches in the T20 World Cup 2024, scoring back-to-back fifties against Australia and England, playing a key role in team’s comprehensive wins. Virat Kohli has struggled right throughout the ongoing tournament with the bat for India, but he has the class and the pedigree to turn things around when it really matters.
Middle Order: Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya
Rishabh Pant has had a middling T20 World Cup 2024 with the bat, but it’s mainly due to throwing caution to the wind in the powerplay stage of the innings, while his wicket-keeping skills have been quite exceptional right throughout. Suryakumar Yadav has made some valuable contributions for India in the tournament, consolidating the innings time and again after quick starts from the top order.
Shivam Dube has got off to a couple of starts in the T20 World Cup 2024, but at the same time, he has also chewed up a few more dot balls than normal, not quite impacting the Indian innings in a positive manner. Hardik Pandya has been very consistent with the bat, ball, and field in the tournament, playing the role of a difference maker to near perfection.
Lower Middle Order: Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel
Ravindra Jadeja hasn’t had much of a role in the T20 World Cup 2024 for India, but his inclusion balances out the playing XI, giving a cushion to the top order to express themselves better, especially in the powerplay overs. Axar Patel has been providing the solidity to the Indian lineup in the tournament, scoring quick-fire runs in the latter stages of the innings, but most importantly, picking up crucial wickets on many occasions in the tournament.
Tailenders: Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah
Kuldeep Yadav has only played in the Caribbean leg of the T20 World Cup 2024, but in his limited appearances, the left-arm unorthodox spinner has taken big wickets of various oppositions. Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah have been one of the best fast bowler pairings in the tournament, putting teams under pressure with quality bowling spells up front and in the death overs, finding themselves in the top wicket-takers list.