Due to intense rains and flash floods in Florida over the past few days, the Florida Panthers had to delay their departure for Edmonton, Alberta, for Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup final.
They eventually arrived in the Canadian city and won Game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers, but the deluge in Florida still had its impact. Meanwhile, the Indian team had better luck as their charter flight from New York to Miami was not canceled on Wednesday, allowing them to prepare for their final league game against Canada in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday.
The forecast for match day is not favorable, with scattered thunderstorms predicted, which could either fully disrupt or partially shorten the match. Despite the flooding in parts of the city, the Indian team, having already secured their place in the Super 8 stage, remains unfazed and has canceled their scheduled net session for Friday.
India vs Canada: Match Preview
If the match against the Saad Bin Zafar side proceeds, it will provide an opportunity for the team to reinforce the strategies, choices, and beliefs they have demonstrated throughout the championship. The XI selected for the three games in the competition has been aimed at tackling spin through the middle phases of the game more effectively than any other side. Should they get match time on Saturday, it will be an ideal moment to continue with this approach, especially with an array of spinners expected to bowl during the middle phases in the Super 8 matches.
With four left-handed batters in the middle order—Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel—alongside right-handed batters Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya, maintaining a left-right combination will be crucial for India to effectively combat spin. This strategy should be consistently followed to prepare for tougher matches ahead, particularly against Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
As for Kohli, there’s little he needs to change from his illustrious career or recent IPL performances. Although his scores of 1 (vs Ireland), 4 (vs Pakistan), and 0 (vs the USA) haven’t met expectations, big scores from him are likely on the horizon.
From Canada’s perspective, they are out of the Super 8 race. While a victory against India might seem unlikely, Canada hopes to emulate their neighbors, the USA, in challenging India closely. Their earlier victory against Ireland and the fight shown against Pakistan will serve as inspiration.
Canada faces their toughest test of the T20 World Cup as India aims to enter the Super 8 stage with an unblemished record. However, the fixture is at the mercy of Florida’s weather. Friday’s game between the USA and Ireland was washed out at the same venue, and there’s an 85% chance of rain on Saturday.
If the game proceeds, India might use the opportunity to test their bench strength. Having played the same XI in their first three group games and with qualification secure, they could give players like Kuldeep Yadav or Sanju Samson some game time, especially since no points are carried forward to the Super 8 stage.
India’s final group game is also Virat Kohli’s last opportunity to find form before the more competitive Super Eight stage. Among all the batters eager to leave New York, he stands out. His move to the top of the order has resulted in scores of 4, 1, and 0, leaving him outside the top 150 run-scorers of the tournament. In Florida, his performance hasn’t been exceptional either, with 63 runs in three innings at an average of 21.00.
With the USA confirming their Super Eight berth from Group A along with India, Canada has been knocked out, having earned only two points from their first three games. Despite this, they have been competitive in their first T20 World Cup, scoring 194 in their opening game against the USA and securing a comfortable win against Ireland. They also gave Pakistan a scare and will hope to finish strong against their most high-profile opponents.
India vs Canada: Form Guide
India: WWWWW (last five matches, most recent first)
Canada: LWLLL
India vs Canada: Pitch Conditions
Showers are expected on Saturday. In T20Is held in Florida, teams batting first have generally had better success. However, given the weather conditions, bowling first might be a wiser choice if the game proceeds.
Thursday was dry, but Friday saw a complete washout in Lauderhill. The forecast for Saturday morning is not encouraging, with scattered thunderstorms predicted throughout the day.
India vs Canada: Head-to-head
India and Canada have never faced each other in a T20I match. Friday’s meeting at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Florida will mark the first time the two teams compete in the shortest format.
India vs Canada: Team News
India
The team doesn’t need to make any changes, as they have strategically selected their XI. Now, it’s about executing their plan with confidence. This approach will best prepare them for the challenges on the slow pitches of the Caribbean. Much like in business planning and risk management, it’s about anticipating scenarios and deciding how to play through the middle overs against quality spin.
With no concerns about the unpredictable pitches witnessed in New York, now is the time to execute their vision. Whether Kuldeep Yadav should replace one of the pacers is a minor issue compared to preparing for the batting challenges in the next stage.
So, India could rest one of their fast bowlers and bring in Kuldeep, whose wrist spin might be crucial in the Super Eight stage in the West Indies.
India’s Predicted XI:
- Rohit Sharma (Capt.)
- Virat Kohli
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Shivam Dube
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Arshdeep Singh
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj/Kuldeep Yadav
Canada
Their batting will center around Shreyas Movva, Aaron Johnson, Nicholas Kirton, and Navneet Dhaliwal, with the latter three having notched half-centuries in this World Cup. Johnson’s spirited innings against Pakistan on a challenging pitch might indicate Canada’s approach to batting, which could prove beneficial in more favorable batting conditions in Florida.
Canada’s decision to replace Dilpreet Bajwa with Ravinderpal Singh did not yield results, as Ravinderpal was dismissed for a duck off his second ball. They may revert to Bajwa against India.
Canada’s Predicted XI:
- Aaron Johnson
- Navneet Dhaliwal
- Pargat Singh
- Nicholas Kirton
- Shreyas Movva (wk)
- Ravinderpal Singh/Dilpreet Bajwa
- Saad Bin Zafar (c)
- Dillon Heyliger
- Kaleem Sana
- Junaid Siddiqui
- Jeremy Gordon
India vs Canada: Players Under Spotlight
India- Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya, while not heavily involved with the bat, has proven to be a valuable asset with the ball. He is currently India’s joint highest wicket-taker in the competition, having taken seven wickets in three games, and has been effective in stifling batsmen during the middle overs. Hardik has consistently hit challenging lengths and concluded the New York leg with an economy rate of 5.41.
Canada- Aaron Johnson
Despite only making his T20I debut in November 2022, Aaron Johnson has quickly become Canada’s second-highest run-scorer. He made a remarkable start to his international career, notching four fifties and a century in his first seven T20I innings, and has maintained his excellent form. Since the beginning of 2023, no other Canadian batter has scored more runs than Johnson’s 400 in 12 innings. He enters this game buoyed by a confident 52 against Pakistan.
Where To Watch The T20 World Cup Live in India? Streaming Details
Cricket enthusiasts can catch the live action of the T20 World Cup 2024 matches via free live streaming on Disney+ Hotstar on mobile devices in India. Additionally, the T20 WC cricket matches will be broadcasted live on Star Sports and DD Sports TV channels across the country.
