India Vs South Africa In Repeat Of Previous Cup Final
AHMEDABAD: This is a repeat of the previous T20 World Cup final where India faced South Africa in their first Super Eight match at the Narendra Modi Stadium, which will also host the championship round of this edition in a few weeks.
While the home team comfortably beat the Netherlands here a few days ago, South Africa have played three of their group stage matches in Ahmedabad and know the conditions very well. The team, which lost the 2024 final closely (by 7 runs) in Barbados, was looking forward to avenging this defeat. Suryakumar Yadav, who took that crucial, calculated catch on the boundary and turned the game around to dismiss David Miller in the final over, is now the captain of the team. Sunday’s match will definitely be a grudge match.
South Africa have a pretty good idea of the opposition as they played heavily against India two months ago. Hosts India won the five-match T20 series 3-1 with one match abandoned. However, in this tournament, both teams were undefeated in the last four matches. Sparks are bound to fly.
Aiden Markram is in good form and confidently leads the Proteas team and the batting chart with 178 runs from four matches at an average of 59.33. There’s also the fierce Tristan Stubbs, nicknamed ‘Baby AB’ after the dangerous de Villiers, who can be menacing with the bat, Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock, David Miller and Dewald Brevis.
As for India, they need to tighten up their game. Drops of points against the USA (they fell to 77 for 6) and Namibia also need to be addressed, as does the senior team’s discomfort with the spinners of Pakistan and the Netherlands.
Abhishek Sharma’s form is now a major concern. The tournament opener is yet to score as he has three ducks against the USA, Pakistan and the Netherlands. But there is plenty to cheer others up. While Ishan Kishan conspicuously covered up his opening partner’s failings with compelling counter-attacks, Tilak Varma and SKY also did a good job of stabilizing the situation. Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya have managed the middle order well and are coming into the pace.
On the bowling front, India will once again rely on pacer Jasprit Bumrah and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy to keep the opposition in check; Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Pandya will be tasked with making timely breakthroughs and tightening the screws.
South Africa will rely on leading goalkeepers Lungisani Ngidi, Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch. However, given the slow nature of the wicket, spinners Keshav Maharaj and George Linde could be the dark horses of the bowling department as the semi-final race gets underway.
