Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, a pivotal player in India’s triumphs during the 2007 T20 and 2011 ODI World Cups, has ventured into the realm of predictions for the T20 World Cup 2024. The tournament is scheduled to be held in the West Indies and the USA, featuring 20 teams in June following the conclusion of IPL 2024.
Yuvraj Singh backs South Africa to win T20 World Cup 2024:
Despite powerhouse teams like India, Australia, and defending champions England being strong contenders for the title, Yuvraj Singh surprised many by overlooking them. Instead, he pointed to the world No. 6 T20I team, South Africa, as his pick for the 2024 T20 World Cup winner.
Yuvraj Singh justified his choice by highlighting South Africa’s commendable performance in the ODI World Cup 2023, even though they haven’t clinched a World Cup title yet. Singh expressed his belief that the Proteas have the potential to emerge victorious in the upcoming T20 spectacle.
“I have a different opinion here that I want them to, and I think South Africa will win). They have not won a white- ball tournament, and the way I saw their progress in the 50-over World Cup. And then obviously there’s Pakistan, who is very dangerous.” said Singh in conversation alongside Gautam Gambir who did not look very convinced.
The mention of South Africa in the context of T20 success adds an interesting twist, especially considering their failure to qualify for the semi-finals in the 2022 T20 World Cup. In that tournament, they suffered a surprising 13-run defeat against the Netherlands in their last league match on November 6, 2022, in Adelaide.
Meanwhile, recapping the recent T20 World Cup in 2022, Pakistan reached the final but fell short of securing the title. Led by Babar Azam, the team faced a five-wicket defeat against England in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 13, 2022.
Prior to this, England had convincingly defeated India by 10 wickets in the second semi-final at the Adelaide Oval on November 10, 2022. The dynamics of T20 cricket continue to evolve, and Yuvraj Singh’s prediction sets the stage for intriguing anticipation in the cricketing world as the 2024 T20 World Cup approaches.
