For many cricketing faithful and perhaps even the powers that be who run this beautiful game, the clash between India and Pakistan was pitted as the biggest match of the tournament also being promoted as ‘The Greatest Rivalry’. Well, from a moolah perspective this was not surprising one bit as this contest undoubtedly is always a money spinner albeit from purely a cricket standpoint was this indeed the biggest match of this T20 World Cup?
Perhaps not because Pakistan now is no longer the team they once used to be and the result was there for everyone to see as The Men in Blue thrashed the Men in Green by whopping 61 runs.
A huge margin in T20 cricket, if one were to reckon.
With this being said, then which is the biggest contest from a cricketing standpoint in this World Cup?
The answer is simple and it hits the idiot box this Sunday at 7 PM (IST) when the might of India is pitted against the resilience of South Africa as they both look to seal their dominance in the Super 8 stage. Perhaps the two best teams as things stand in this tournament.
And with good reason as India have been rather clinical in their decimation of Namibia, Pakistan and the United States albeit barring the early hiccup. The only team that’s given them a run for their money has been the Netherlands who came mighty close to chasing down India’s mammoth 193 only falling short by 17 runs.
When one talks about South Africa, it is rather obvious to see how lethal they have also been through their annihilation of Canada, New Zealand and the UAE with Afghanistan being the nightmarish team courtesy the double super over.
A trajectory that is pretty similar for both the teams, with three comprehensive wins and one being plucked out through thin air albeit when it wasn’t very favourable. So, as the two powerhouses get set to lock horns, let’s delve into whether the title of this piece is just a fantasy or indeed a reality?
Well, the answer for me is a reality as the Proteas can definitely beat India and here is how but make no mistake, the task is not going to be easy.
Win the toss and field for The Men in Green and Gold
Aiden Markram should hope for the coin to fall in his favour as dew will definitely play a role in the contest making chasing a viable option as the ball will come onto the bat more favourably in the second half when the dew sets in considering the 7pm start. This will help negate India’s massive slow bowling threat in Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav who are all world class spinners along with the icon of India’s pace reserves, Jasprit Bumrah.
The Proteas will also have to exploit India’s visible weakness against off-spin bowling with the likes of left handers in Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan being a little weary against Aryan Dutt of the Dutch team as was seen the other day. The pressure will undoubtedly be on Markram and Stubbs to make a case as they are the only off-spin options and that too part-time.
Keeping India below 200 will be crucial for South Africa as irrespective of the dew, a target above this noteworthy landmark becomes a tad bit difficult to chase in any high-pressure game.
South Africa has to be extremely adept with the bat
For many Protea faithful including me, the horrific batting collapse at the tail end of the last T20 World Cup final when South Africa had all but done enough to win their maiden ICC trophy still gives us sleepless nights.
The target was well within sight before Bumrah changed the game as the Proteas lost four wickets for just 17 runs falling 7 runs short of glory. Well, India and their fans want history to be repeated but South Africa can’t falter this time.
Surely not.
They can and truth be told have to hold and not wilt under pressure which is what coach Shukri has perhaps instilled in them as we saw in the game against Afghanistan which seemed beyond South Africa’s grasp courtesy Kagiso Rabada’s heroics albeit in the wrong way before empathically coming out on top in the second round of the super overs.
De Kock along with Markram needs to set the tone upfront, followed by the inform Rickelton capitalizing on the start giving Brevis the canvas to express freely and Miller fuelling in the finishing blows. The wheel needs to turn as one if South Africa harbour any ambitions of putting India’s envious bowling unit under pressure.
The 1,30,000 strong crowd has to be silenced
Come Sunday, South Africa will not only be playing against the Indian team comprising of 11 players, but also the 1,30,000 strong Sea of Blue which will be cheering the hosts on amid the picturesque stadium in Ahmedabad.
The pressure will be on the Mzansi and hence it will become crucial for them to silence the crowd from the get go by reversing the pressure. South Africa will have to start extremely well with the bat or the ball basis what the toss holds for them putting all the pressure on India to not allow the crowd to become boisterous from the get go.
If the Proteas are successful in silencing the noise, it will undoubtedly go a long way in holding them in good stead to come at the right end of the bargain. Whatever the circumstances, this contest surely promises to be a blockbuster. But beyond the spectacle lies a defining truth — one team must seize the moment, stamp its authority, and carve a path to the final four.
Well for every Mzansi heart that beats in hope, may it be the men in Green and Gold who rise and roar with much valour.