The T20 World Cup 2024 title match between India and South Africa is set to take place today at Kensington Oval ground in Barbados at 8 pm Indian time. A competitive game is expected as both teams have remained undefeated in the tournament so far.
India secured their spot in the final by defeating England in the semi-finals, while South Africa overcame Afghanistan. In their previous encounters, India has had the upper hand against South Africa in T20 World Cup matches, winning four out of six games played between them. In overall T20 matches, India has won 14 out of 26 matches against South Africa, making them a strong contender for victory in the title match.
Weather conditions are a concern, with a 78 percent chance of rain in Barbados on June 29. The match is scheduled to begin at 10:30 am local time with a 50 percent chance of rain from 3 am to 10 am and a possibility of rain with storms at 11 am. A reserve day has been allocated by the ICC in case the match is affected by rain, with the provision for a super over to determine the winner if needed.
The pitch at Kensington Oval ground offers a balanced contest between bat and ball, with fast bowlers benefiting from bounce and swing while spinners pose a challenge for batsmen in the middle overs. The average first innings score on this pitch is 153 runs, with teams batting first winning 19 out of 32 T20 matches played on this ground.
The toss will play a crucial role in determining the course of the game. The probable playing XI for the final match includes Rohit Sharma (captain), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dubey/Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah for India.