India vs South Africa at T20 World Cup Final: All You Need to Know-A Battle for the Glory

The men’s T20 World Cup 2024 finalists have been determined; South Africa and India will compete for the championship on Saturday morning in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Thus, it’s South Africa and India. In how many ICC finals meetings have they faced off? Or a knockout match?
The two sides will square off in the men’s ICC competition final for the first time. In the semi-final of the 2014 T20 World Cup, India defeated South Africa.

Are they the two teams that are best in this tournament?

It’s true that the two best teams have advanced to the championship game. South Africa has an extra victory under their belts because of India’s defeat versus Canada, although both sides are undefeated in the tournament having won both of their group stages and Super Eights.

The first team to win an undefeated men’s T20 World Cup will be the one that prevails in the final.

Which group has chosen a more difficult path?

Before defeating the United States and England in the Super Eight, South Africa had victories over Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, and Nepal in the group stage. They knew that losing to West Indies in their last Super Eight encounter would send them out, but they managed to win by three wickets in a close game that was cut short by rain.

South Africa advanced to the final by crushing Afghanistan by nine wickets in the semi-final after a run of close wins.

India, meanwhile, defeated Pakistan, USA, and Ireland to start their campaign. Rain ruined their flawless group stage record, washing out their match against Canada in Lauderhill. India defeated Australia to complete the Super Eight stage after winning convincingly against Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

India produced yet another impressive display in the semi-final, defeating England by 68 runs.

One may argue that India had stronger opposition—they had to defeat Pakistan, Australia, and then England in the semifinals—but South Africa was put to the test in most of their games and managed to go through.

Also Read: India vs South Africa T20 World Cup 2024 Final Preview- Eyeing on the Glory

Alright, so what makes this final so significant to South Africa?

Since South Africa will be participating in an ODI, T20, or men’s World Cup final for the first time, it is a historic occasion. In actuality, South Africa has never advanced to the final of an ICC men’s competition, with the exception of winning the first-ever Champions Trophy in 1998.

They have been this close numerous times; prior to this year, they had advanced to the semi-finals of two T20 World Cups (2009 and 2014) and five ODI World Cups (1992, 1999, 2007, 2015, 2023) but never to within one victory of the championship.

And why is India’s significance?

Although India won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, they haven’t won a World Cup since 2011, and the 2013 Champions Trophy was their most recent ICC trophy. Since then, they have been quite close, making it to the 2014 T20 World Cup final, the 2016 and 2022 semi-finals, and the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cup semi-finals. Additionally, in 2021 and 2023, they came in second place in the World Test Championship finals.

They went undefeated to the final of the domestic ODI World Cup last year, but they were devastated by the outcome. They have an opportunity to mend some of those scars and put a stop to their barren run in world events less than a year from now.

When was the last time the West Indies hosted a World Cup?

The West Indies hosted the T20 World Cup for the final time in 2010. The final that year featured Australia and England and was held at Bridgetown’s Kensington Oval.