The time has come for the India Cricket Team to lift an ICC Trophy yet again. For a third time within a year, Rohit Sharma and Co have the chance of breaking their ICC Trophy jinx in the IND vs SA T20 World Cup final which will very well be a battle of chokers. Both South Africa and India haven’t had success in ICC events. But most importantly, the Men in Blue will be eager to present a perfect send-off to Rahul Dravid by winning the trophy.
IND vs SA: Battle of Chokers
India were made to eat a humble pie when Australia won the WTC Final and ODI World Cup final last year. But now, India face South Africa in the finals of the ICC T20 World Cup at Barbados on June 29.
South Africa have always been deemed as chokers. They had to wait 32 years before reaching a World Cup final. Interestingly, India can also be termed as chokers. They have lost two WTC Finals, an ODI World Cup final and haven’t won the World Cup since 2011.
In the T20 format, India did reach the final in 2014 but luck deserted them there as well. Now, Rohit Sharma has a chance to write the wrongs of 2023 WC final that he desperately wanted to win.
T20 World Cup Final: How can India line up?
It is safe to say that the Virat Kohli gamble for Team India has failed. More than Kohli, the Shivam Dube gamble has also failed. So now what needs to be done? Play Kohli at 3 instead of opening, and bring Yashasvi as the opener. Replace Shivam Dube with Sanju Samson?
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It can be assumed that India would be unwilling to change their established setup. There is a huge uproar on Virat Kohli. The ace batter managed to score just 75 runs in 7 innings. But like Rohit Sharma said, Kohli is setting up for a big show for the finals. Similarly, it is highly unlikely that Samson would come in the India Playing XI.
Samson last played in the warmup match where he disappointed with a score 1 run from 6 deliveries. On the other hand, the Indian spinners have been on a roll. Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja have weaved their magic in slow Caribbean pitches. And Bumrah has been a beast, picking wickets at ease and maintaining a the lowest economy in the entire tournament.
India Squad
Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal
South Africa Squad
Quinton de Kock(w), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Bjorn Fortuin, Ryan Rickelton
