Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has predicted a victorious outcome for England in their upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 match against South Africa. The match is set to take place on June 21 in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, with both teams having already emerged victorious in their respective Super 8 openers. England dominated the West Indies by eight wickets, while South Africa secured a win against the United States of America by 18 runs. Chopra believes that England’s impressive form will carry them to a win against South Africa, which would nearly guarantee their spot in the semi-finals.
Chopra credits England’s overwhelming performance in their previous match against the West Indies, where they comprehensively defeated the hosts, as a major factor in their chances of winning. He expects Phil Salt to continue his impressive batting form against South Africa, highlighting his destructive capability and potential to make a significant impact on the game. Chopra also credits Jos Buttler’s presence in the team, as well as Moeen Ali’s effective use, emphasizing that their combination will be crucial to England’s victory.
Sam Curran (Via Sam Curran/Twitter)
Chopra also notes England’s batting depth as a major strength, citing Jonny Bairstow’s promotion up the order in their previous match as an example of their willingness to experiment. He praises England’s plethora of bowling options, including Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, Liam Livingstone, and Sam Curran, giving them multiple choices to pick from. This depth and variety, according to Chopra, will allow England to stay one step ahead of their opponents.
In contrast, Chopra suggests that South Africa need either Quinton de Kock or Reeza Hendricks to fire if they are to post a good total. De Kock scored 74 runs off 40 deliveries against the USA, which gave some hope to Proteas fans. Chopra also believes that South Africa might face a selection dilemma when choosing their bowling attack, potentially replacing Tabraiz Shamsi with Ottniel Baartman.
Chopra appears confident that England will emerge victorious in this match, citing their strong form and the variety of options available to their bowling and batting departments.
