Former South African gun fast bowler Dale Sten has picked England and India as the likely finalists for the upcoming World Cup. Steyn said he wanted to go with South Africa but picked the hosts and defending champions as the finalists.
India will be playing in their own conditions and they will look to make the most of them by coming up with collective efforts. The home team will enter the World Cup with winning impetus on their side as they have won six out of their last eight matches.
On the other hand, England is well known for their aggressive approach and has the players to defend their title.
Meanwhile, South Africa has struggled to cross the last hurdle on numerous occasions in the World Cup and is yet to win their maiden title.
Dale Steyn on Star Sports, “See, on logic, you can’t drop England from the finalists spot because they have a very strong team, and the way they are playing cricket with their all- rounders like at number 9, they have all-rounder batsmen like Chris Woakes, so I know that but I have a hunch in my heart which says that South Africa will do great in this World Cup. So, for me, it’s India and South Africa. See, South Africa has a great chance to do well in this World Cup because they have arrived here with a strong team and good form but India will definitely win this World Cup because they are in their best form right now and also like Waqar Younis told how they played in the Asia Cup and according to me they have also ticked all the boxes at right time.”
Speaking on the finalists, “It’s a tough one, you know my heart wants to go with South Africa making the final. I would love them to make the final, their team, a lot of their players play in the IPL, they play in India regularly. They got some guys like in David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen who really started to figure out those conditions and bat well there.
“Then, there is KG Rabada who is being bowling there for ages and a lot of their other senior players have played a lot of cricket there. So I feel like they have got the ability to go on and get to the finals with getting those players. But I am not just too sure and I kind of have to go with Waqar. Yeah, I feel like the favorites would probably be India, I feel like India is going to be one of the finalists, and probably England. But my heart wants to say South Africa and India but I am kind of leaning towards India and England.”
South African players have the experience of playing in the Indian conditions because of the IPL. Furthermore, they recently defeated Australia by 3-2 after coming from behind and this series win must have added to their confidence. The likes of Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock, David Miller Temba Bavuma, and Kagiso Rabada will hold the key for the Proteas.
