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5 Key Factors That Could Decide The Winner Of IND vs SA T20 World Cup 2024 Final

Rohit Sharma's India will face SA in T20 WC final [AP]Rohit Sharma's India will face SA in T20 WC final [AP]

This evening, India will cross swords against South Africa in the much-anticipated T20 World Cup 2024 final at the iconic Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. 

Led by Rohit Sharma, India have been unstoppable in the competition, securing a berth in the final with seven consecutive victories. 

On a similar note, the Proteas have also been sensational, becoming the first team to enter the final following their clinical win over Afghanistan in Tarouba, Trinidad. 

Considering the red-hot recent form of both sides, we anticipate a cracking decider in Barbados. So, before the game begins, here are five factors that could be decisive to determine the winner of this World Cup. 


Indian batting order vs Rabada, Jansen and Nortje

India had a memorable outing in the semifinal as they outclassed England across departments en route a 68-run win. However, the surface in Barbados is expected to be much different than that in Guyana. 

Although the seam movement will be minimal, there could be some spongy bounce, which the pacers can exploit throughout the day. 

South Africa have three tall pacers- Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje, who, with their high release points, might cause discomfort for the Indian batters. 

So, although the deck's even pace will aid in strokeplay, how the Indian batters tackle the bounce will be a key factor to determine their performance. 

On the bowling front, if there is some loopy bounce on offer, the onus will be on Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya to hit the hard length and capitalise on it. 


Performance of Kohli, Dube & Pant

Virat Kohli is yet to step up with the bat for IND [AP]Virat Kohli is yet to step up with the bat for IND [AP]

Virat Kohli, Shivam Dube and Rishabh Pant are three players who have let the Indian team down in the T20 World Cup. 

While Kohli and Pant have found it tough to score as top-order batters, Dube hasn't been the same spin-hitter he used to. 

So, considering it's the all-important final, these players must step up with the bat. Having said that, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya are expected to form the Indian batting core alongside skipper Rohit Sharma, as they have showcased exemplary form throughout the competition. 


How India tackle Klaasen & De Kock

Klaasen will play a key role for SA [AP]Klaasen will play a key role for SA [AP]

Although they have impactful players like Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs and David Miller, Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen will be the most valuable batting assets for South Africa in the T20 World Cup final. 

In a tournament where powerplay batting has held significant importance, De Kock's job will be to use the hard new ball and get South Africa off to a flier. 

Meanwhile, Klaasen is the fulcrum of the South African middle order, as he can be their answer to India's rampant spin bowling unit. 

So, considering their ability to keep the scoreboard ticking at a rapid pace, De Kock and Klaasen will be the most crucial wickets for team India. If they get these two batters cheaply, the Men in Blue can definitely put South Africa under the pump. 


The Bumrah and Kuldeep factor

Bumrah has had stellar success [AP]Bumrah has had stellar success [AP]

Whenever India want a breakthrough, they hand the ball to either Jasprit Bumrah or Kuldeep Yadav. While Bumrah is India's most trusted weapon across phases, Kuldeep's ability to bamboozle the batters with his guile makes him a tricky customer in the middle overs. 

So, the eight overs of these two players will be vital from both sides' perspectives. If Bumrah and Kuldeep strike at crucial junctures, India will undoubtedly run through the Proteas' batting lineup. 

On the contrary, South Africa would like their batters to dominate these two bowlers so that they can pressurise the Indian bowling unit in this encounter. 


Hold your nerves, take the trophy home

Despite being blessed with formidable teams, India and South Africa haven't been able to clinch the ICC titles in recent times due to their inability to hold their nerves in knockout matches. 

So, irrespective of how their batters and bowlers perform, it will ultimately come down to how they deal with the pressure situations in the game. 

Whichever side brings its A-game and wins the crunch moments will add the prestigious trophy to their cabinet.