India, South Africa run back 2024 final in Super Eights

Ahmedabad braces for a blockbuster Super Eights clash of the ICC T20 World Cup today as unbeaten India take on equally flawless South Africa in a high-voltage rematch of the 2024 edition’s final.

In that game in Bridgetown, India had come out on top by seven runs in a thrilling final to lift their second ever T20 World Cup title.

This time, both sides are eyeing to begin their Super Eights leg with a win and take early control of the four-team Group 1.

India’ struggling opener Abhishek Sharman has been under the spotlight before the match. The Southpaw, who tops the ICC batters rankings in T20Is, has had three successive ducks so far and missed one game owing to sickness.

However, his captain Suryakumar Yadav has thrown his weight behind out-of-form opener and said his team will continue to “cover for him” till he returns to form.

“People who are worried about Abhishek’s form, I worry for them,” Suryakumar said with a smile. “It is a team sport, it happens. Team requires him to play with his identity, so if he fires it's okay, otherwise we are there to cover for him. Last year he covered for us, now we will do it for him,” he added.

Though India topped their group and carry a 12-match unbeaten streak in T20 World Cups, their batting has yet to fully ignite.

Spin could once again shape the outcome. India boast the world’s top-ranked T20 bowler in Varun Chakravarthy, who has nine wickets in four matches.

But South Africa, led by Aiden Markram, arrive with momentum and balance. Their own slow-bowling options, spearheaded by Keshav Maharaj, have thrived on surfaces offering grip, while their batting unit has looked measured and adaptable.

Elsewhere, England face Sri Lanka in a rain-threatened Super Eights Group 2 match in Kandy, with skipper Harry Brook warning his side must be ready to adapt if showers reduce the contest to a sprint.

“I think you just have to prepare as if it is a T20,” Brook told reporters. “I think you can sometimes go down a bit of a rabbit hole thinking that you're going to play a five-over game and then it ends up being a T20 and you kind of play it slightly differently.

“So, I think we've just got to prepare as if it is a T20 game and hope that the rain stays away. And then if it doesn't, then we've got to adapt,” he added.