T20 World Cup 2024 final: 5 decisive match-ups that can swing the verdict

Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 final between India and South Africa here on Saturday PTI looks at five key contests that could determine the course of the matchDespite crickets huge popularity in India and the nation being the epicentre of the T20 game through the lucrative IPL their only triumph in the competition came 17 years ago Indias last major silverware of any kind was the Champions Trophy in 2013 and their hopes have been repeatedly dashed since They came agonisingly close to winning the 50over World Cup at home last year but lost to Australia in the final breaking the hearts of 14 billion Indians Rohit Sharma vs Marco JansenIts not a fabled rivalry Yet But the Indian skipper has a certain vulnerable side to leftarm pace as substantiated by Pakistans Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Shah Afridi in the pastThough it is less pronounced now Jansen who has been in fine fettle in the event could open up that old wound with his probing line outside offstump to deny India early momentumHowever the numbers are in favour of Rohit The Mumbaikar has faced the SA pacer in nine T20I innings and was dismissed only once while taking 113 runs off him Virat Kohli vs Kagiso RabadaIndias unbeaten run in this ICC showpiece has masked the poor run of Kohli with the bat 75 runs from seven matches at an average of 1071 Kohli will run into a formidable opponent in Rabada in the title clashThe SA quick has so far taken 12 wickets from eight matches but his economy is even more impressive 588 considering he often bowls in the Power Play and in the death oversKohli would do well to exert some care while playing that trademark swatflick as Rabadas incoming deliveries can sneak past it In all T20Is Rabada has ousted Kohli four times in 13 innings giving away just 51 runs Rishabh Pant vs Keshav MaharajThis could be a very interesting battle in the T20 World Cup 2024 final and not just because of their current form Lets take a look at their numbers in the tournament first Pant has so far made 171 runs from seven matches at a reasonable strikerate of 129 and Maharaj has bagged 9 wickets from seven matches The wicketkeeper batter has been batting No 3 in this event and in all possibility he could meet the leftarm spinner inside the first 10 oversMaharaj will have to be at his accurate best to prevent Pant from playing all his unconventional shots and the lefthander was also dismissed three times playing the reverse sweeppaddle Maharaj will hope that Pant will be equally adventurous against himAlso ReadDoItForDravid trends ahead of final but coach Rahul prioritises team success Jasprit Bumrah vs Quinton de KockDe Kock is the highest rungetter for SA in this World Cup with 204 runs from eight matches made at a strikerate of 143 His bursts upfront have given them an upper hand in some lowscoring matches But he will be up against Bumrah the best bowler on the planet at this momentThe Indian pacer has taken 13 wickets from seven matches at an astounding economy of 412 De Kock will have to be at his absolute best not just to score runs off Bumrah but even not to lose his wicket against himAxar PatelKuldeep Yadav vs Heinrich KlaasenKlaasen is certainly among the most destructive players against spin But in this World Cup he has made just 138 runs from eight matches at an anaemic strikerate of 112The righthander will have to be contend with Axar and Kuldeep who have been troubling batters with their exemplary lines and subtle variationsKlaasen will have to regain his rangehitting abilities if South Africa want some steam in the middle overs either while setting or chasing a totalWith agency inputs