 "India had defeated New Zealand by a 4-1 scoreline in a five-match T20I series right before the T20 World Cup. PTI")
There is a fair bit of concern among Indian cricket fans heading into Sunday’s T20 World Cup final between the Men in Blue and New Zealand at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, in which the former will be aiming to become the first team to win the tournament thrice.
It is, after all, the venue where India had suffered a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Australia in the final of the 2023 ICC World Cup, a tournament that the Rohit Sharma-led home team had sailed through unbeaten until the title-deciding match.
It is also at this ground that India have suffered their only defeat of the ongoing T20 World Cup so far, suffering a 76-run thrashing at the hands of South Africa in their opening Super 8 fixture on Sunday, 22 February.
Hafeez believes ‘home support’ will boost India’s performance
Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez, however, believes that India will have a “big advantage” heading into the mega showdown at the Narendra Modi Stadium despite the fact that their only defeats across the last four ICC events – two to be precise – have occurred at this very venue.
“India will have big advantage. They have played many matches at Ahmedabad. They will be playing at home ground and there will be home support. Only two out of 18 teams reached the final. Only those two teams who are complete team have reached the final. There’s no fluke,” Hafeez said on the ‘Game On Hai’ show on PTV Sports.
“Both India and New Zealand have managed the conditions and pressure well. Final will tough but it’s difficult to pick a winner. But how India have played last two matches, their confidence is sky high,” he added.
Quick Reads
View AllThe two finalists had faced off in a five-match T20I series right before the T20 World Cup, which the Men in Blue had won by a 4-1 scoreline .
While India will be aiming to become the first team to win three T20 World Cup titles and in consecutive editions as well as the first as a host nation, New Zealand will be aiming to become the seventh nation to be crowned T20 world champions.