History may be a looming factor in the T20 World Cup final, but neither South Africa nor India believe it will have a significant impact on the outcome. This is South Africa’s first final in World Cup cricket, while India has faced knockout defeats in all World Cups except one since 2014.
“Both South Africa and India are considered the top two teams in this tournament,” added Dravid. “Players focus on the present and do not dwell on the past. It will be a fresh day for both teams.”
“We were happy after qualifying for the final, but we immediately shifted our focus to the next step,” Markram said. “There is a strong desire within the team to win tomorrow’s game.”
Both teams benefit from the quick turnaround between matches, which prevents them from overthinking the occasion. South Africa had an extra day of rest but spent it at an airport due to flight delays, keeping the final out of their minds.
India’s preparation focused on physical, mental, and tactical readiness for the game, with Dravid stressing the importance of controlling what they can.
South Africa had an optional training session in Barbados, where they have not played before, maintaining a focus on the smaller details rather than the magnitude of the final.
“In a competition like this, things move quickly,” said Markram. “There’s not much time for reflection, but the opportunity to be in a final is exciting.”
