The stage is set for an epic clash as India and South Africa lock horns in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. Both teams are unbeaten, boasting impressive bowling attacks and strong batting lineups. But who will emerge victorious? Our Cricdadium writers pick their top 3 players to watch out for!
Will Jasprit Bumrah’s fiery yorkers dismantle South Africa’s batting? Can Heinrich Klaasen explode with a match-winning knock? Find out who our experts believe will be the game-changers in this high-stakes encounter!
Smrati Khare, CEO: “I only have one pick for the game. King Kohli. He might be hungry for runs, having played the rest of the league rather diminishingly. Captain Rohit would be alongside him, with the duo leading India to glory in what might be their last World Cup together. My final pick would be ‘Boom-Boom’ Bumrah, who just cannot do any wrong in this tournament.”
Shubham Khare: “Rohit Sharma has been brilliant throughout the tournament with the bat as well as his leadership. He has continued playing selflessly just the way he did in the ODI World Cup 2023. He looks hungry and his eyes are on the trophy. Jasprit Bumrah has proved in this tournament that there is no one anywhere close to him when it comes to bowling skills in the shortest format. His stats in the World Cup are unreal. India would bank on him to deliver the goods in the big game. Heinrich Klaasen has been quietly going under the radar as the others around him have made things easier. But against the Indian spinners, he would be the biggest threat. He is known for handling spin well and has done well against the likes of Kuldeep Yadav in the past.”
Aayush Pathak: “If I am to pick my top 3, I’d go with Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel. Quinny loves to play against India, he has an impeccable record and loves the Indian bowling unit. He might want to be the hero that led South Africa to their maiden title. Same with SKY, he has some 350-odd runs against South Africa and averages almost 70 against them. Axar is my pick because of the pitch. He showed his class in the semis and I am counting on him to come out with at least 2-3 wickets in what could possibly be the biggest game of his life.”
Swapneel Deshpande: “My top 3 picks for the Final are Virat Kohli, Heinrich Klassen and Kagiso Rabada. Kohli will be hungry, after a lean patch, Kohli will sign off the tournament on a high with a crucial knock of 50+ runs. Klassen will be the key for South Africa in tackling the Indian spinners in the middle overs. His quick-fire knock in the middle overs will turn the tide for Proteas. I have a feeling that Kagiso Rabada will have a great game. He will dismiss one of the openers. Rabada has been looking solid this season and his hit the deck kind of bowling will make him a tough customer to handle on this pitch. Rabada will pick 3 wickets in the match.”
Roome Mishra: “The top 3 players in India vs South Africa in my opinion, would be Quinton de Kock, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. All three of these seasoned players have shown themselves to be reliable in all conditions. Speaking about Quinton, the Proteas star has been playing really well this season. It’s well-known how good he plays against India, considering 3 out of his first 4 centuries were against India. VIRAT, on the other hand, has to come in his best form. I think he would like to score in the Kensington Oval, considering how he played in the same stadium against Afghanistan, scoring 24 runs. I’m expecting him to score around 50 runs today, being aided by Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma. Jasprit Bumrah has been the backbone of India in this series, showing up against Pakistan and Australia. His performance in the stadium against Afghanistan assures me that he is going to bowl some good speedsters. Especially considering how the South African batters are more used to spinning balls. Bumrah can take 2-3 wickets today.”
Poulomi Chakraborty: “A month full of excitement, disappointments, joy, heartbreaks, and some unforgettable, we collected some incredible memories. Now all our fingers are crossed ahead of the final clash between India and South Africa. In my top 3 picks for the final match, the first name would be, Suryakumar Yadav. The aggressive Indian batter is one of the finest players of the T20 Cricket. In the middle order, his role will be crucial in the big match, in the last semifinal, he played an exciting knock of 47 runs in 36 deliveries. In the big match, his potential will be beneficial for the team. Fans want to see the shining bright SKY. The next pick would be Kuldeep Yadav. In the Caribbean condition, the bowler thrived. In three Super Eight games, he secured 7 wickets. With the assistance from the pitch, Kuldeep can be a terror to the opponent. The third and last name will be Tabraiz Shamsi. In favourable conditions, Tabraiz Shamsi can be a living danger. Depending on his recent form, he would be a great bowler. Shamsi’s last spell of 3/6 against Afghanistan was a big factor in the win. Indian batters may face challenges while facing the bowlers in the big match.”
Anusuya Basu: “Since the start of the tournament, Hardik Pandya has been in great form with both bat and ball. Though he didn’t wickets in every match, his economical bowling always benefitted Team India. His batting and quick runs always boost the team’s scoreboard. In this tournament, Hardik Pandya scored 116 runs which is the third highest score from India’s side, and took 8 wickets. In the finals, fans are anticipating to see a great all-round performance for the vice-captain. Axar Patel has been a cornerstone of India’s XI in the 2024 T20 World Cup. In the first phase of India which happened in the USA, the pitch mostly favored fast bowling. On that pitch, Axar Patel showcased great consistency and took wickets as well. Axar captured eight crucial wickets. His consistent performances have solidified his role as an indispensable player, contributing significantly to India’s campaign. David Miller has been South Africa’s pillar of consistency, anchoring the middle order in every match. With 148 runs in this tournament, he provides essential balance to the team. Fans eagerly anticipate another stellar performance from him on the grand stage today.”
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