IND vs SA Final, Barbados Weather Updates: Clear skies at stadium, India win Toss; but rain could disrupt T20 World Cup final (2024)

TOSS: India win the toss, opt to bat.

Follow more for India vs South Africa live score updates

Current Weather in Barbados: Partly Sunny and extremely humid

Temperature: 28°

Humidity: 83%

Cloud Cover: 35%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Live visuals from Kensington Oval. All set for a cracker?

Positive signs from the morning in Barbados, nearly two hours out from start of play.

As seen from overnight visuals, we are likely to have a flat, benign surface for the final. The Kensington Oval has traditionally been a home for pacers than the spinners and it will be interesting to see the combinations that the teams will uphold for the summit clash.

Barbados has been one of the more high-scoring grounds of the tournament with a run-rate of nearly 7.78 per over. While pacers have picked up 59 wickets at the venue, spinners have only managed 32 with a comparatively higher economy.

Reports from journalists on the ground in Barbados suggest that the skies have cleared up, at least for the moment. We're still just over three hours away from the start of the India vs South Africa final. But if the weather conditions do not deteriorate, we will have an uninterrupted game.

But as we have seen with other games at the ongoing T20 World Cup, weather can be a fickle subject that can change quickly.

The India versus South Africa T20 World Cup final could possibly be interrupted by rain. If the match is affected today by rain, the ICC has pencilled in a reserve day on June 30.

"Every effort will be made to complete the match on the scheduled day with any necessary reduction in overs taking place, and only if the minimum number of overs necessary to constitute a match cannot be bowled on the scheduled day will the match be completed on the reserve day," the ICC playing conditions for the T20 World Cup 2024 read.

The conditions further add: “If a full game is not possible, both teams must bat 10 overs in order to achieve a result. Having said that, extra 190 minutes have been allotted to get a result on the scheduled day. If the play has not resumed by the cut-off time on the scheduled day, the match will resume from the same point on reserve that, meaning that there won't be a fresh start.

“If no play is possible on the scheduled day, the game will begin at the same time it was supposed to on the original day. Most importanlty, if the overs are reduced on the scheduled day and played before interruption on the same day, it will begin from the same point on the reserve day.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that if India win the T20 World Cup final today, it will result in the Men in Blue going on a trophy-winning spree.

"I feel if India get the job done today they are going to go on a trophy winning spree," Vaughan tweeted. "They have so much quality in and out of this squad. Its been 10 years since they won a trophy and this one could lead to quite a few over the next years."

Weather for 7 AM on June 29, Saturday (7 am in Barbados will be 4.30 pm in IST)

Mostly Cloudy and Windy Weather Conditions Expected

Temperature: 28°

Humidity: 81%

Cloud Cover: 60%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 8 AM on June 29, Saturday (8 am in Barbados will be 5.30 pm in IST)

Mostly Cloudy and Windy Weather Conditions Expected

Temperature: 28°

Humidity: 79%

Cloud Cover: 65%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 9 AM on June 29, Saturday (9 am in Barbados will be 6.30 pm in IST)

Mostly Cloudy and Windy Weather Conditions Expected

Temperature: 29°

Humidity: 78%

Cloud Cover: 75%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 10 AM on June 29, Saturday (10 am in Barbados will be 7.30 pm in IST)

Mostly Cloudy and Windy Weather Conditions Expected

Temperature: 30°

Humidity: 75%

Cloud Cover: 69%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

(Weather Forecast Data Via Weather Dot Com)

Weather for 10 AM on June 29, Saturday (10 am in Barbados will be 7.30 pm in IST)

Mostly Cloudy and Windy Conditions Expected

Temperature: 30°

Humidity: 74%

Cloud Cover: 68%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 11 AM on June 29, Saturday (11 am in Barbados will be 8.30 pm in IST)

Mostly Cloudy and Windy Conditions Expected

Temperature: 30°

Humidity: 74%

Cloud Cover: 68%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 12 PM on June 29, Saturday (12 noon in Barbados will be 9.30 pm in IST)

Mostly Cloudy and Windy Conditions Expected

Temperature: 30°

Humidity: 75%

Cloud Cover: 70%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 1 PM on June 29, Saturday (1 PM in Barbados will be 10.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 30°

Humidity: 73%

Cloud Cover: 80%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

(Weather Forecast Data Via Weather Dot Com)

Weather for 2 PM on June 29, Saturday (2 PM in Barbados will be 11.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 29°

Chance of rain: 37%

Humidity: 75%

Cloud Cover: 85%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 3 PM on June 29, Saturday (3 pm in Barbados will be 12.30 am in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 29°

Humidity: 77%

Cloud Cover: 83%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 4 PM on June 29, Saturday (4 pm in Barbados will be 1.30 am in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms Expected

Temperature: 28°

Humidity: 79%

Cloud Cover: 88%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 5 PM on June 29, Saturday (5 pm in Barbados will be 2.30 am in IST)

Cloudy Conditions Expected

Temperature: 28°

Humidity: 79%

Cloud Cover: 89%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Data via Weather dot com.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has some advice for the South African team ahead of the final against India.

"A lot of teams say 'It's just another game' and they try and hide away from how big the occasion is and it is no good doing that. it is all about embracing it for what it is," Ponting said on the ICC's Digital Daily show.

"These players haven't been there before, so enjoy tonight, enjoy tomorrow. But make sure everything you do leading in is the same and your preparation is the same."

Ponting also said that he believes South Africa have the talent to match India in the final.

"They are undefeated upto here, so they don't need to change anything and they don't need to try any harder,” Ponting said. "They just need to turn up and be the best version of themselves and the best version of themselves as a team on the day and give themselves the best chance. If they do that, they will be hard to beat."

The Indian cricket team has stumbled at the final hurdle at two major ICC events in the recent past, losing to Australia in last year's ICC World Test Championship final in London and the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad.

However, Team India head coach Rahul Dravid believes those two defeats will have no bearing on how India performs in the final today against South Africa in Barbados. The Men in Blue are trying to win a trophy they last won in 2007, which was the inaugural edition of the tournament.

"I don't think players go in keeping the baggage of the past and what has happened in the past, so every day is a fresh day," Dravid said ahead of the T20 World Cup final. "Players are very good at moving on from things, of recognising things. So yes, I think just as we will move on from Ahmedabad, I'm sure they will not be thinking about history and it will be a fresh day. Two good teams, two teams I think that everyone will agree that probably the top two teams in this tournament played the best cricket I think in this tournament, both South Africa and India. So, deserving finals for both the teams and hopefully it's a great game of cricket and hopefully we fall on the right side."

South Africa are a nation that has produced some of the greatest stars of the game such as Hansie Cronje, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada. However, the nation is yet to win a major trophy (unless you consider the Champions Trophy title they won in 1998).

Making it to the final itself has been rare for the Proteas, for they have stumbled in the semi-finals of ICC tournaments seven times so far.

Can they win the trophy today?

If the Proteas have their hunger fanned by history, they will find Rohit Sharma and Co standings in their path today. The Men in Blue have experience their fair share of heartbreaks in recent years.

2013 was when India last lifted an ICC trophy.

Since then it's been a roller coaster of 'almost there' moments and heartbreaks. They lost the 2014 T20 World Cup in the final before suffering semifinal exits in 2015 and 2016 World Cups of both formats. They have also lost in two back-to-back World Test Championship finals. Over the last two years, they were handed a crushing 10-wicket defeat by England in the 2022 T20 World Cup semis before losing in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup to Australia.

Dean Elgar writes for The Indian Express ahead of the IND vs SA final:

I was 12 when that run out happened. That 1999 semifinal game against Australia, is easily the worst World Cup memory for me. I have never played in a World Cup myself and so, I never bothered or carried around that C-word hurled at us. But of course as a South African I haven’t escaped that being bandied against us. Most disappointingly from South African fans themselves.

It would be very harsh if they use that word against this current group. Nothing in their last year or even 18 months has indicated that word to be used. They have been real good in white-ball cricket; the last ODI World Cup in India also was good though ultimately it didn’t go our way.

As a former captain, I feel very, very proud that this team has entered an ICC final after so many years. I think the monkey on the back has curbed a little bit by reaching the final but I know South African fans – they would only be completely happy if this team lifts that trophy. They are used to winning in Rugby and in sports and tend to expect and judge on that result.

Read Dean Elgar's column

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that Christopher Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth will be the on-field umpires for the T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Richard Kettleborough will be the TV umpire and Rodney Tucker has been picked as the fourth umpire while match referee for the all-important game will be Richie Richardson.

Weather for 5 AM on June 29, Saturday (5 am in Barbados will be 2.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 27°

Chance of rain: 11%

Humidity: 82%

Cloud Cover: 66%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 6 AM on June 29, Saturday (6 am in Barbados will be 3.30 pm in IST)

Mostly Cloudy Weather Expected

Temperature: 27°

Chance of rain: 21%

Humidity: 82%

Cloud Cover: 77%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 7 AM on June 29, Saturday (7 am in Barbados will be 4.30 pm in IST)

Mostly Cloudy Weather Expected

Temperature: 28°

Chance of rain: 16%

Humidity: 81%

Cloud Cover: 78%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 8 AM on June 29, Saturday (8 am in Barbados will be 5.30 pm in IST)

Mostly Cloudy Weather Expected

Temperature: 28°

Chance of rain: 20%

Humidity: 79%

Cloud Cover: 71%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 9 AM on June 29, Saturday (9 am in Barbados will be 6.30 pm in IST)

Few Rain Showers Expected

Temperature: 29°

Chance of rain: 32%

Humidity: 78%

Cloud Cover: 78%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather Forecast Data via Weather dot com

Weather for 10 AM on June 29, Saturday (10 am in Barbados will be 7.30 pm in IST. Match starts at 8 pm IST)

Rain Showers Expected

Temperature: 30°

Chance of rain: 36%

Humidity: 76%

Cloud Cover: 68%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 11 AM on June 29, Saturday (11 am in Barbados will be 8.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 30°

Chance of rain: 47%

Humidity: 75%

Cloud Cover: 68%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 12 PM on June 29, Saturday (12 noon in Barbados will be 9.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 30°

Chance of rain: 45%

Humidity: 75%

Cloud Cover: 72%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 1 PM on June 29, Saturday (1 PM in Barbados will be 10.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 30°

Chance of rain: 46%

Humidity: 75%

Cloud Cover: 81%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Data via Weather dot com

Weather for 2 PM on June 29, Saturday (2 PM in Barbados will be 11.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms Expected

Temperature: 29°

Chance of rain: 37%

Humidity: 75%

Cloud Cover: 84%

Rain Amount: 0.02 inches

Weather for 3 PM on June 29, Saturday (3 pm in Barbados will be 12.30 am in IST)

Cloudy/Windy Weather expected

Temperature: 29°

Chance of rain: 24%

Humidity: 77%

Cloud Cover: 88%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 4 PM on June 29, Saturday (4 pm in Barbados will be 1.30 am in IST)

Cloudy weather expected

Temperature: 28°

Chance of rain: 22%

Humidity: 79%

Cloud Cover: 89%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 5 PM on June 29, Saturday (5 pm in Barbados will be 2.30 am in IST)

Cloudy weather expected

Temperature: 28°

Chance of rain: 24%

Humidity: 79%

Cloud Cover: 90%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Data via Weather dot com.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes that Rohit Sharma will ensure that India win the T20 World Cup title after they lost the ODI World Cup final to Australia at home last year.

“I don’t think he can lose two World Cup finals in seven (six) months. He will probably jump into the Barbados ocean if he loses two finals under his captaincy in seven months. He has led from the front, batted brilliantly, and I hope it continues tomorrow. Hope India finishes on the right side, and they should play with freedom. They have been the best side of the competition. I wish them luck, I wish they win. Hope they have a little bit of luck tomorrow because that is required to win big tournaments,” Ganguly told PTI.

Rohit Sharma has already proved his captaincy credentials with Mumbai Indians taking the franchise to the IPL title five times. Ganguly remarked that winning an IPL title is more difficult than winning an ICC tournament.

“Rohit has the record of winning five IPL titles, which is huge achievement. Winning an IPL sometimes is more difficult. Don’t misquote me, I’m not saying IPL is better than international cricket,” said Ganguly. “But you have to win 16-17 (12-13) matches to win an IPL; here you need to win 8-9 matches to win a World Cup. The honour is more in winning the World Cup.

A storm system roughly 1,110 miles southeast of Barbados strengthened into a tropical storm late on Friday, gaining the name Beryl and growing closer to becoming the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, forecasters said.

The tropical storm, headed west toward the Caribbean, was expected to grow into a hurricane as early as Sunday night as it approaches the Windward Islands, southeast of Puerto Rico and north of Venezuela.

As of 10:40 p.m. Eastern on Friday, the National Hurricane Center estimated the storm had sustained winds of 40 miles per hour, gusting even higher.

The Kensington Oval is the biggest Caribbean venue, if you considered permanent capacity. The venue can seat 28,000. The Kensington Oval is located in the west of the Barbadian capital and has hosted cricket games for over 120 years, with matches featuring international touring teams as early as 1895!!

The ground was refurbished ahead of the 2007 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. It also hosted the game where England defeated rivals Australia in the T20 World Cup 2010.

In India vs South Africa encounters, Hardik Pandya has been the top bowler for Team India while Nortje has been the man with the most impact with the ball for the Proteas.

Hardik has claimed six wickets in matches agianst SA at an bowling average of 40.33 and at a strike rate of 27.00. Nortje, meanwhile, also has six wickets at an average of 39.83 and strike rate of 26.00.

In India vs South Africa encounters, Suryakumar Yadav has been the top batter for Team India while Aiden Markram has been the man with the most impact with the bat for the Proteas.

Suryakumar Yadav has piled on 343 runs against South Africa at an average of 68.6 and a strike rate of 177.72. His top score has been 100.

On the other hand, Markram has scored 165 runs against India at an average of 33 and a strike rate of 143.47. His top scored has been 52.

Markram has already made history at the T20 World Cup 2024. South Africa had lost their previous seven semi-finals across formats in ICC events, making Markram the first skipper to lead the Proteas into a trophy match.

"There's been a lot of support back home from past players, which is special for us as a group," he said.

"They're the guys who inspired us when we were younger, and to now be making them proud but also having their support means a lot to us as a team," Markram said ahead of the T20 World Cup Final 2024.

MATCHES PLAYED: 26

IND WIN: 14

SA WIN: 11

TIED: 0

NO RESULT: 1

WIN % FOR IND: 56%

WIN % FOR SA: 44%

India have made it to the final of yet another ICC tournament - third in a row - and it's captain Rohit Sharma, who's been at the forefront of performances and master tactics. The success may have come at the fa*g end of his career but Rohit's journey to taking one the hardest job in Indian sports started long ago.

The Indian Express' Devendra Pandey, who's followed his rise to the top from up close, joins Rahul Pandey to talk about the Rohit everyone knows, and the Rohit no one does.

WATCH by clicking on this link

The unimaginative and the insensitive are calling the T20 World Cup final as a "Chokers Derby". Why? Because Team India hasn’t won an ICC World Cup since 2011 and South Africa’s record is worse – they are yet to play a World Cup final.

The two teams historically disinclined towards winning big games, packed with players carrying painful so-near-yet-so-far memories, will meet at Barbados on Saturday. Fans in two continents, traumatised by previous World Cup heartbreaks, will have butterflies inside them charging like buffaloes. They have waited for the Cup to come home for far too long. But with hope, comes a rider. Success and failure at the storied Kensington Oval at Bridgetown, Barbados, will have overarching consequences. A win in the final, for either team, will wipe out the insulting tags and see an image makeover. A loss, meanwhile, would further chasten the team for being soft, underline old flaws and disillusion the fans more.

At around midnight this weekend, the world would have passed its brutal judgement — one team will be hailed as a Champion outfit, the other dismissed as chronic chokers. This name-calling is unfair and ironic, writes Sandeep Dwivedi in his weekly sports column.

Indian cricket team head coach Rahul Dravid has said he believes the adaptability that Team India has shown at the ongoing T20 World Cup in different conditions will help in the final against South Africa on Saturday.

“Just the fact that we played a game in Barbados is nice. It's nice that we have that familiarity there of having played on that surface in the past,” Dravid said. “We're not going to get exactly the same wicket that we got last time. It can be different. And I think what's really important and I think what we've done really well as a group this whole tournament is we have shown the ability to adapt, to recognize what is a good score,” he added.

Despite playing on slow surfaces, India have shown aggressive intent, which has helped them end up with above par totals in each of the last four matches. “We played very differently in New York, than we played at St. Lucia. Then we played in Barbados in the first game, I thought that the wicket was quite slow. But again, for a final, we are not really sure what we are going to come up against. And I'm just hoping that whatever we come up against, we will have the ability to recognize it and to be able to play accordingly, as we've done in the last three games,” Dravid said.

Weather for 5 AM on June 29, Saturday (5 am in Barbados will be 2.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 27°

Chance of rain: 11%

Humidity: 82%

Cloud Cover: 66%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 6 AM on June 29, Saturday (6 am in Barbados will be 3.30 pm in IST)

Mostly Cloudy Weather Expected

Temperature: 27°

Chance of rain: 21%

Humidity: 82%

Cloud Cover: 77%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 7 AM on June 29, Saturday (7 am in Barbados will be 4.30 pm in IST)

Mostly Cloudy Weather Expected

Temperature: 28°

Chance of rain: 16%

Humidity: 81%

Cloud Cover: 78%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 8 AM on June 29, Saturday (8 am in Barbados will be 5.30 pm in IST)

Mostly Cloudy Weather Expected

Temperature: 28°

Chance of rain: 20%

Humidity: 79%

Cloud Cover: 71%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 9 AM on June 29, Saturday (9 am in Barbados will be 6.30 pm in IST)

Few Rain Showers Expected

Temperature: 29°

Chance of rain: 32%

Humidity: 78%

Cloud Cover: 78%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather Forecast Data via Weather dot com

Weather for 10 AM on June 29, Saturday (10 am in Barbados will be 7.30 pm in IST. Match starts at 8 pm IST)

Rain Showers Expected

Temperature: 30°

Chance of rain: 36%

Humidity: 76%

Cloud Cover: 68%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 11 AM on June 29, Saturday (11 am in Barbados will be 8.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 30°

Chance of rain: 47%

Humidity: 75%

Cloud Cover: 68%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 12 PM on June 29, Saturday (12 noon in Barbados will be 9.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 30°

Chance of rain: 45%

Humidity: 75%

Cloud Cover: 72%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 1 PM on June 29, Saturday (1 PM in Barbados will be 10.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 30°

Chance of rain: 46%

Humidity: 75%

Cloud Cover: 81%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 2 PM on June 29, Saturday (2 PM in Barbados will be 11.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms Expected

Temperature: 29°

Chance of rain: 37%

Humidity: 75%

Cloud Cover: 84%

Rain Amount: 0.02 inches

Weather for 3 PM on June 29, Saturday (3 pm in Barbados will be 12.30 am in IST)

Cloudy/Windy Weather expected

Temperature: 29°

Chance of rain: 24%

Humidity: 77%

Cloud Cover: 88%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 4 PM on June 29, Saturday (4 pm in Barbados will be 1.30 am in IST)

Cloudy weather expected

Temperature: 28°

Chance of rain: 22%

Humidity: 79%

Cloud Cover: 89%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Weather for 5 PM on June 29, Saturday (5 pm in Barbados will be 2.30 am in IST)

Cloudy weather expected

Temperature: 28°

Chance of rain: 24%

Humidity: 79%

Cloud Cover: 90%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

Data via Weather dot com.

According to media reports, the South African cricket team were briefly stranded at the Trinidad airport as they tried to make their way to Barbados for the T20 World Cup final where they will face India today.

According to a media report in ESPNCricinfo, "A landing failure of a small private aircraft at the Grantley Adams airport in Barbados has resulted in the South Africa team, their families, commentators, match officials and ICC officials being stranded at the Trinidad airport. The Barbados airport was closed for inspections by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Barbados Police Service."

The report added that passengers on the flight from Trinidad to Barbados were informed that the tentative rescheduled time was 4.30pm, which would amount to nearly six hours of delay.

Team India head coach Rahul Dravid was asked by the broadcaster Star Sports about the campaign running in India to win the T20 World Cup for him, called Do It For Dravid, since this is his last event as coach of the national team.

"It's totally against who I am as a person. It's totally against my values. I don't really believe in this: do it for somebody. I love that quote about somebody asking someone, 'Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?' And he says, 'Because it's there'. Why do we want to win the World Cup? Because it's there! It's not for anyone, it's not for anybody, it's just there to win. We just want to play good cricket. All this 'doing it for someone' is against who I am as a person and what I believe in. So I don't want to discuss it," Dravid said.

He later went on to sign off by telling the broadcaster: "If you can get that campaign removed, I'll appreciate it."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that if India win the T20 World Cup final today, it will result in the Men in Blue going on a trophy-winning spree.

"I feel if India get the job done today they are going to go on a trophy winning spree," Vaughan tweeted. "They have so much quality in and out of this squad. Its been 10 years since they won a trophy and this one could lead to quite a few over the next years."

The Indian cricket team has reached the final of the T20 World Cup without losing a single game -- dropping points only because of a washout in the group stage game against Canada -- but Team India head coach Rahul Dravid believes India are yet to have played a faultless match.

"I think you're always looking to improve. And I don't think you can ever have a perfect game," Dravid said ahead of the T20 World Cup final against South Africa.

"Certainly, we have not had a perfect, perfect game in any game and I don't think any team really does. So, look, I mean, I think in one day it's not that, you're going to suddenly start changing things too much. So, for us really, I think now getting into this final, it's just about staying relaxed, about trusting the good cricket that we've played about recognising I think that we found ourselves in pressure situations right through this tournament but we've always found players and people to come up and deliver the goods. Also just recognising that we've got a really good balance in the team, we've got the players and just for us to, like I answered earlier, maybe just come there really well prepared, do all the things that we can do, control all the controllables, do everything that we need to do and then just go out and play hopefully a great game of cricket."

The Indian cricket team has stumbled at the final hurdle at two major ICC events in the recent past, losing to Australia in last year's ICC World Test Championship final in London and the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad.

However, Team India head coach Rahul Dravid believes those two defeats will have no bearing on how India performs in the final today against South Africa in Barbados. The Men in Blue are trying to win a trophy they last won in 2007, which was the inaugural edition of the tournament.

"I don't think players go in keeping the baggage of the past and what has happened in the past, so every day is a fresh day," Dravid said ahead of the T20 World Cup final. "Players are very good at moving on from things, of recognising things. So yes, I think just as we will move on from Ahmedabad, I'm sure they will not be thinking about history and it will be a fresh day. Two good teams, two teams I think that everyone will agree that probably the top two teams in this tournament played the best cricket I think in this tournament, both South Africa and India. So, deserving finals for both the teams and hopefully it's a great game of cricket and hopefully we fall on the right side."

Former Australian cricket team captain Ricky Ponting has said he plans to reach out to the South African camp with some advice ahead of the T20 World Cup final against India.

"A lot of teams say 'It's just another game' and they try and hide away from how big the occasion is and it is no good doing that. it is all about embracing it for what it is," Ponting said on the ICC's Digital Daily show.

"These players haven't been there before, so enjoy tonight, enjoy tomorrow. But make sure everything you do leading in is the same and your preparation is the same."

Ponting also said that he believes South Africa have the talent to match India in the final.

"They are undefeated upto here, so they don't need to change anything and they don't need to try any harder,” Ponting said. "They just need to turn up and be the best version of themselves and the best version of themselves as a team on the day and give themselves the best chance. If they do that, they will be hard to beat."

Weather for 5 AM on June 29, Saturday (5 am in Barbados will be 2.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 27°

Chance of rain: 35%

Humidity: 82%

Cloud Cover: 63%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 6 AM on June 29, Saturday (6 am in Barbados will be 3.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms Expected

Temperature: 27°

Chance of rain: 35%

Humidity: 82%

Cloud Cover: 73%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 7 AM on June 29, Saturday (7 am in Barbados will be 4.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms Expected

Temperature: 28°

Chance of rain: 43%

Humidity: 81%

Cloud Cover: 70%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 8 AM on June 29, Saturday (8 am in Barbados will be 5.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 28°

Chance of rain: 42%

Humidity: 79%

Cloud Cover: 75%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

(Data via Weather dot com)

Weather for 9 AM on June 29, Saturday (9 am in Barbados will be 6.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms Expected

Temperature: 29°

Chance of rain: 50%

Humidity: 78%

Cloud Cover: 83%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 10 AM on June 29, Saturday (10 am in Barbados will be 7.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 30°

Chance of rain: 55%

Humidity: 76%

Cloud Cover: 81%

Rain Amount: 0.02 inches

Weather for 11 AM on June 29, Saturday (11 am in Barbados will be 8.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 30°

Chance of rain: 57%

Humidity: 76%

Cloud Cover: 84%

Rain Amount: 0.13 inches

Weather for 12 PM on June 29, Saturday (12 noon in Barbados will be 9.30 pm in IST)

Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 30°

Chance of rain: 72%

Humidity: 77%

Cloud Cover: 86%

Rain Amount: 0.7 inches

(Data via Weather dot com)

Weather for 1 PM on June 29, Saturday (1 PM in Barbados will be 10.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 30°

Chance of rain: 56%

Humidity: 78%

Cloud Cover: 88%

Rain Amount: 0.02 inches

Weather for 2 PM on June 29, Saturday (2 PM in Barbados will be 11.30 pm in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 29°

Chance of rain: 51%

Humidity: 79%

Cloud Cover: 80%

Rain Amount: 0.02 inches

Weather for 3 PM on June 29, Saturday (3 pm in Barbados will be 12.30 am in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms/Wind Expected

Temperature: 29°

Chance of rain: 48%

Humidity: 79%

Cloud Cover: 79%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 4 PM on June 29, Saturday (4 pm in Barbados will be 1.30 am in IST)

Scattered Thunderstorms

Temperature: 28°

Chance of rain: 37%

Humidity: 83%

Cloud Cover: 89%

Rain Amount: 0.01 inches

Weather for 5 PM on June 29, Saturday (5 pm in Barbados will be 2.30 am in IST)

Few Showers Expected

Temperature: 28°

Chance of rain: 30%

Humidity: 82%

Cloud Cover: 87%

Rain Amount: 0 inches

(Data via Weather dot com)

Once the covers came off after a rain-delayed start to reveal a dry low-skidding track, it was clear that India were favourites. Nothing changed during the entire course of the game as India trounced defending champions England by 68 runs. As easy as it appeared, especially during the chase when England capitulated meekly, the win was set up by a crafty knock from Rohit Sharma, skilful exhibition from Suryakumar Yadav, and momentum-seizing cameos from Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja.

Above all, it was Rohit who led the way. With his thought and skill. For a short while, say the first four overs,Rohit Sharma hadn’t got used to the pace and (low) bounce of the pitch. Or rather he was trying to see if he can get away batting in his usual attacking manner. An intended cut burst through the hands of Phil Salt at backward point, a huge miss for England in the second over off Jofra Archer. (Read more from Sriram Veera)