2024 T20 World Cup Final | History and heartbreak beckon as the T20 extravaganza reaches much-awaited climax

2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final preview: India vs South Africa, battle of unbeaten teams at Kensington Oval.

India has not won an ICC title since 2013. South Africa has reached the final of a men’s World Cup for the first time, after seven semifinal defeats.

Come Saturday, at the grand finale of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Kensington Oval, a jinx will be broken. This is a battle between the two unbeaten teams in the tournament.

India, having overcome all challenges posed by varying conditions and quality opposition, will believe that a second T20 World Cup trophy is within arm’s reach.

The side has breezed past stiff competition posed by Pakistan, Australia and England. From the low scoring games at New York to the wind-affected outing at St. Lucia, India has found a way to get the job done.

As the campaign progressed, new heroes have emerged. In the Super 8 stage against Bangladesh, Hardik Pandya hit top gear with the bat to stand tall as an ace finisher. Skipper Rohit Sharma came to life by blasting Australia all over the park, and followed it up with a fine 57 against England in the semifinal.

Kuldeep Yadav, drafted into the eleven when the side moved from USA to the West Indies, has been among the wickets. And then there is Jasprit Bumrah, who has remained unplayable from start to finish.

Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant are the other proven performers, giving the unit an air of invincibility.