June 28 was all dedicated to the pre-match buzz of the all-important T20 World Cup 2024 Final between two undefeated nations in India and South Africa. This is a battle between a team who has been on a drought more than a decade now and a supremely talented unit that has qualified for a World Cup Final.. until now! Apart from this, we saw the one-off Test between the women’s teams of India and South Africa
T20 World Cup 2024 Final is HERE!
And after almost a month-long wait, the stage is set for a blockbuster T20 World Cup final! India, hungry to reclaim the glory they last tasted in 2011, lock horns with a resurgent South Africa, eyeing their maiden ICC tournament win. Kensington Oval in Barbados braces for a battle of titans. Can Rohit Sharma’s men overcome the heartbreak of past defeats against the Proteas? Or will South Africa’s fiery pace attack and explosive batting script a historic victory?
Smriti Mandhana & Shafali Varma decimates South Africa!
Team India’s women are off to a record-breaking start in the Chennai Test against South Africa. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma unleashed a batting masterclass, amassing a mammoth 292-run partnership. Varma’s whirlwind knock, including a stunning double century, left the South African bowlers clueless. Mandhana fell just short of a double ton herself, but her 149 provided crucial support. India reached a staggering 525/4 at stumps. This phenomenal display set a new record for the most runs scored on the opening day of a women’s Test match. With the women setting the bar so high, the Indian men will be under pressure to replicate this heroics against the Proteas in the T20 World Cup Final!
T20 Word Cup > ODI World Cup?
The T20 World Cup is rapidly becoming the top prize for cricketers, according to a World Cricketers Survey. Five years ago, the 50-over World Cup reigned supreme with 85% of players calling it the most important event. Now, that number has halved to 50%, while 35% consider the T20 World Cup the pinnacle. This shift reflects the growing popularity of the T20 format itself, which 30% of players now value most compared to just 18% for Test cricket.
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Rain to spoil T20 World Cup Final?
The T20 World Cup 2024 final between India and South Africa faces a potential washout due to rain. Forecasts predict a high chance of rain throughout the day in Barbados, with thunderstorms possible as early as toss time. This could significantly impact the match. Even moderate rain can delay the start or force frequent stoppages, disrupting the momentum and rhythm of the game. In case of no play on the night of the finals, a reserve day is scheduled!
Inzamam-ul-Haq vs Rohit Sharma continues!
A war of words has erupted between former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and current Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. Inzamam sparked debate by casting doubt on India’s bowling tactics during the T20 World Cup, questioning how they achieved reverse swing so early. Rohit countered, suggesting Inzamam “use his brain.” This ignited tensions, as Inzamam, coming from a land that produced the likes of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, took offense. He viewed Rohit’s comments as an insult to Pakistan’s mastery of the technique.
Sumit Nagal eye historic Wimbledon!
Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal is set for a historic Wimbledon debut. He’ll face Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic in the main draw, marking the first time an Indian man has reached this stage since 2019. This is also Nagal’s third consecutive Grand Slam appearance after qualifying for the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year. The 26-year-old is doubly proud, having secured his spot in the upcoming Paris Olympics, becoming only the second Indian player (since Leander Paes) to qualify for consecutive Olympic singles events.