India are looking to become the first side to lift the T20 World Cup for a third time and the country of 1.4 billion expecting nothing less.
Standing in the way of Suryakumar Yadav’s hosts in Ahmedabad are New Zealand, who have already upset the odds with a thumping nine-wicket win over previously unbeaten South Africa to reach the final.
After Finn Allen’s record 33-ball century in the semi-finals, a buoyant New Zealand believe they can finally win a T20 World Cup crown.
Captain Mitchell Santner said: “If we go about our business the same way, we can upset another big team.”
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India will have to withstand the expectations of 100,000-plus cricket-obsessed fans at a packed Narendra Modi Stadium.
Hundreds of millions more will be watching on TV.
The top-ranked T20I team are attempting to become the first to win back-to-back T20 World Cups and the first to lift the trophy on home soil.
“There will definitely be pressure and nerves, especially playing in India and going for the title,” said Suryakumar after a nerve-shredding seven-run win against England in a high-scoring semi-final. “But the boys and the whole support staff are excited as well.”
India have effectively played three knockout games to reach the final, after losing their opening Super Eights match to the Proteas.
They hammered Zimbabwe by 72 runs and chased down 196 to beat the West Indies in must-win games to make the semi-finals.
After posting a mammoth 253-7 against England in the last four, India needed a pivotal 18th over from death-bowling master Jasprit Bumrah to stave off an English batting assault.
Bumrah conceded just six runs from his final over to leave England with too much to do and, despite Jacob Bethell’s 105, India held on.
Suryakumar acknowledged he was lucky to have such a unique talent to call upon in the crucial moments.
“It was a special bowling performance,” he said of Bumrah.
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The main concerns for India are the form of opening batsman Abhishek Sharma and leading spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
Both are No 1 in the ICC T20I rankings but have been out of sorts as the tournament heads to its climax.
Abhishek had three consecutive ducks in the group phase and his only score of any note was a fifty against Zimbabwe.
Chakravarthy was targeted mercilessly by England’s batsmen at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium as they pummelled him for 64 runs from his four overs.
He has taken just four wickets since the group phase.
New Zealand have blown hot and cold, having been beaten by South Africa and England earlier in the tournament.
But all their players are hitting form at the right time and they have enough firepower to upset India.
They crucially also have nothing to lose as they will go into the final as huge underdogs.
Santner said: “It’s going to be obviously a challenge where everyone knows we’re probably not the favourites.
“But yeah, I wouldn’t mind breaking a few hearts to lift the trophy for once.”
– AFP
Photo: Prakash Singh/Getty Images
