The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final is set to take place between India and South Africa after 28 days and 54 matches. The final will be held on Saturday, June 29 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, starting at 10:30 am local time. The pitch at the Kensington Oval has favored pace bowlers over spinners, and both teams have a mix of quality pacers and spinners in their line-ups.
Teams winning the toss in Bridgetown have generally opted to field first, with mixed results. India chose to bat first in their only game at this venue against Afghanistan and emerged victorious. India holds a slight edge over South Africa in their head-to-head T20 meetings, winning 14 matches compared to South Africa’s 11. India has also won four of their five meetings in the T20 World Cup.
Both India and South Africa have been in excellent form throughout the tournament, with both teams winning all their matches leading up to the final. India’s predicted XI includes Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah, while South Africa’s predicted XI features Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, and Kagiso Rabada. The weather forecast for Bridgetown during the final predicts scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms, but efforts will be made to ensure a full 20-over match.
In case of a rain delay, a maximum of 190 minutes of extra time has been allocated, and Sunday, June 30 has been set as the reserve day for the final. If the match ends in a tie, a super over will be played to determine the winner, with subsequent super overs following until a victor emerges. The match officials for the final include referee Richie Richardson and on-field umpires Christopher Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth.
India’s route to the final included wins over Ireland, Pakistan, USA, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Australia, and England in the semifinals. South Africa’s journey to the final saw victories over Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Bangladesh, Nepal, USA, England, West Indies, and Afghanistan in the semifinals. Both teams are in excellent form and the final promises to be a thrilling clash between the two best sides in the T20 World Cup.