T20 WORLD CUP FINAL: FIVE KEY CONTESTS THAT CAN IMPACT THE OUTCOME

NEW DELHI: India and South Africa are set to face off in the T20 World Cup final in Barbados on Saturday. As the two unbeaten sides in the tournament gear up for the finale, here's a look at 5 key contests that could determine the course of the match.

Rohit Sharma vs Marco Jansen

Rohit Sharma's contest against Marco Jansen will be critical. While it is not yet a well-known rivalry, Rohit’s vulnerability to left-arm pace, revealed previously by Pakistan's Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Shah Afridi, offers Jansen a chance to exploit this weakness. Jansen has been in excellent form during the tournament and could disrupt India's early momentum with his line outside off-stump.

Numbers show a slight edge for Rohit, who has faced Jansen in nine T20I innings, scoring 113 runs and being dismissed only once.

Virat Kohli vs Kagiso Rabada

Virat Kohli's performance in the World Cup has been below par with just 75 runs from seven matches at an average of 10.71. Kohli will face a formidable opponent in Kagiso Rabada during the title clash. Rabada, with 12 wickets from eight matches, has an impressive economy rate of 5.88, considering his frequent bowling during the Powerplay and death overs.

In their T20I meetings, Rabada has dismissed Kohli four times in 13 innings, conceding only 51 runs.

This is a crucial matchup and Kohli will need to be cautious with Rabada’s incoming deliveries, particularly while attempting his trademark swat-flick.

Rishabh Pant taking on Keshav Maharaj

Another key battle involves Rishabh Pant and Keshav Maharaj. Pant has accumulated 171 runs from seven matches at a strike rate of 129, while Maharaj has taken nine wickets in the same number of matches. Pant, batting at No.3, is likely to face Maharaj within the first 10 overs.

Maharaj will need to bowl with utmost accuracy to curtail Pant’s unconventional shots. Notably, Pant has been dismissed thrice while attempting the reverse sweep and paddle shot.

Jasprit Bumrah vs Quinton de Kock

Jasprit Bumrah versus Quinton de Kock is another anticipated duel. De Kock, who is the highest run-scorer for South Africa in this tournament with 204 runs from eight matches at a strike rate of 143, has given South Africa an edge in some low-scoring games. However, de Kock will confront Bumrah, who is considered one of the best bowlers in the world currently.

Bumrah has taken 13 wickets from seven matches with an extraordinary economy rate of 4.12. De Kock will need to be at his peak to score runs off Bumrah or even to avoid losing his wicket.

Axar/Kuldeep vs Klaasen

Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav will be up against Heinrich Klaasen. While Klaasen has a reputation for being a destructive player against spin, he has only managed 138 runs from eight matches in this World Cup at a strike rate of 112.

Klaasen will need to rediscover his range-hitting abilities to provide momentum for South Africa in the middle overs, whether they are setting or chasing a target.

Both teams carry different strengths and weaknesses into this decisive match, and the performances of these players will likely determine which side comes out on top.