T20 World Cup Final Location: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown (Barbados)
T20 World Cup Final Date: Saturday, June 29
BetXchange T20 World Cup Final Odds:
History
This is the right final for this tournament. The only two undefeated teams to emerge from initial pool play and the Super 8s will meet on Saturday in Barbados as South Africa faces India in the 2024 T20 World Cup final.
The Proteas will be searching for their first World Cup win in a limited-overs format, while India will attempt to win its first global trophy of any type in over a decade. It is hard to decide which of those two stats is the most shocking, but it is safe to say that there is more than just this single trophy for both squads.
They are also two teams in outstanding form, each destroying their semi-final opponents. South Africa crushed Afghanistan in the first semi by nine wickets. They bowled out the tournament’s surprise package for just 56 runs on a testing pitch before cruising to 60/1 within nine overs. A dominant showing banished the Proteas semi-final hoodoo once and for all.
If that was South Africa firing a warning shot to whoever they were to meet in the final, then India quickly responded. On another wicket that was a mess halfway through the first innings, they set defending champions England a score of 172 to win. The English never looked like getting close, dropping wickets early and often to the world’s best spin attack. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets each for a combined 42 runs, with England batsmen being skittled left and right as their chase fell apart.
South Africa
The Proteas have reached this point by picking up plenty of narrow wins along the way. This goes against what has been typical of the South Africans in the past, and there is real belief that they can win this.
The raw pace of Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada with the ball will be huge here. The South Africans must challenge the top of the Indian batting lineup and pick up wickets before partnerships are formed.
India
India has been firing on all fronts at this tournament. The only real disappointment has been the form of opener Virat Kohli. The ex-captain and typical run machine has yet to make it to double digits in an inning in the tournament. Kohli, always a man for the big stage, is the type of player who could turn that run around in a final.
Kohli’s struggles have been countered by the bowling, which has been near perfect, and the play of India’s middle-order. Suryakumar Yadav has been especially impressive.
Best Bets
The pitch is going to be a huge factor in this match. The wicket at the Kensington Oval isn’t one that typically assists spinners with extra turns. Instead, it is one where seamers are going to excel. There will be plenty of bounce early, though as the wicket wears in and the shine comes off the ball, the batsmen can strike as long as they adjust to the conditions.
South Africa at 8/5 in a head-to-head battle is well-priced for a flutter here. I love Yavav at 33/10 to be India’s best batsman, while Nortje at 47/20 would be my pick as the best bowler for the Proteas.
