The memory of November 19, 2023, might still be vivid for Indian fans, but the players are focused on one goal. India will play against South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, targeting to secure the trophy for a cabinet that hasn’t seen new silverware in over a decade.
Team India will take at the Proteas on the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday, June 29. India stays undefeated in the tournament, with seven wins in 8 matches.
However, India hasn’t been at their tactical best throughout the competition. They have made at least a couple of mistakes in every game, but the high quality of their team and some outstanding individual performances have propelled them to the final.
There’s no room for mistakes now. Here are three crucial actions India must take to defeat South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup final:
#1 India should ensure Shivam Dube faces the spinners
Shivam Dube was demoted to No. 7 in the semifinal against England, facing only one ball. Selected to counter spin, he hasn’t had sufficient opportunities during the middle overs. Against South Africa, India can’t repeat this error. Dube should be at the crease soon after the powerplay to tackle Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, with the other batters adjusted accordingly.
Rishabh Pant seems out of place at No. 3, resulting in an underutilized powerplay and misalignment of the batting order. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja also shouldn’t be promoted ahead of Dube.
#2 The Men in Blue must maintain their composure
This might seem intangible and vague, but India must stick to the brand of cricket that has brought them success in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Men in Blue have fielded a side with eight batters and maintained a positive approach, which paid off in the recent semifinal against England. This strategy should continue even in the high-pressure final.
In the 2023 World Cup final against Australia, India made questionable decisions, including preparing a dubious pitch, changing their new-ball bowlers, and adopting a cautious batting approach after early wickets. They suffered the consequences of losing their nerve, and those memories remain fresh.
#3 Team India should aim to take Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi out of the attack by attacking them aggressively
In the 2023 World Cup, India ruled South Africa in their group stage match in large part due to Rohit Sharma’s aggressive technique in opposition to Marco Jansen, who hesitated below pressure.
South Africa is fielding five frontline bowlers in this tournament, with Jansen and Shamsi being particularly susceptible to losing their accuracy. India must pressure them with aggressive shots and continuous strike rotation.
While Rohit Sharma will surely have plans for this, the rest of the batters need to embrace this strategy as well.
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