'They'll be hard to beat if...' - Ricky Ponting shares winning formula with Aiden Markram ahead of IND vs SA T20 World Cup final

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting offered valuable advice to the South Africa national cricket team ahead of their first-ever World Cup final match against the India national cricket team. Ricky Ponting stated that the Aiden Markram-led team shouldn't treat the T20 World Cup 2024 final as 'just another game' and should actually embrace the big occasion.

The South African team is one of two teams remaining unbeaten in the ICC tournament. The Proteas registered four victories in the group stage of the tournament. They went on to beat the United States of America (USA), England, and the West Indies to advance to the semifinal stages of the T20 tournament.

Aiden Markram's team hammered Afghanistan in the first semifinal of the T20 World Cup. They bowled out the Afghanistan team for just 56 runs in 11.5 overs at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. They successfully chased down the target with nine wickets and 11.1 overs to spare in the semifinal encounter.

It's Just Another Game - Ricky Ponting

Speaking on the ICC's Digital Daily show, Ricky Ponting advised the South African team to embrace their first-ever T20 World Cup final. Ponting urged them not to underestimate the final and to maintain consistency in their preparation.

"A lot of teams say 'It's just another game' and they try and hide away from how big the occasion is and it is no good doing that. it is all about embracing it for what it is," Ponting said on the ICC's Digital Daily show.

"These players haven't been there before, so enjoy tonight, enjoy tomorrow. But make sure everything you do leading in is the same and your preparation is the same," he added.

They Are Undefeated Upto Here - Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting expressed confidence in South Africa's ability to compete with India in the final match. The former Australian batter advised them to trust their skills and not feel pressured to change their approach. Ponting said that South Africa will be hard to beat if they give themselves the best chance.

"They are undefeated upto here, so they don't need to change anything and they don't need to try any harder. They just need to turn up and be the best version of themselves and the best version of themselves as a team on the day and give themselves the best chance. If they do that, they will be hard to beat," Ponting further stated.

Team India secured their place in the final match by defeating the England team in the second semi-final in Guyana. Both India and South Africa remain undefeated in the tournament. The summit clash will take place at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, June 29, at 10:30 am Local Time (8:00 pm IST).

Team India holds an advantage over South Africa in T20 World Cups with a 4-2 lead. The South African team defeated the Rohit Sharma-led team in their last T20 World Cup meeting in 2022.

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