Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg has predicted an India versus Australia final in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup, being held in West Indies and the USA. Australia became the second team, after South Africa, to qualify for the Super 8 whereas Rohit Sharma-led India followed the Aussies. While both are in different groups at present, the two heavyweights will be in Group 1 in the Super 8 round, locking horns on June 24 at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia. Before the clash, Hogg predicted an India-Australia T20 WC final on June 29 (in Bridgetown, Barbados).

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‘It sets it up for the possibility of Australia vs India in the final’

Hogg said on Star Sports, “In the Super 8s, Australia and India have got Bangladesh (yet to qualify) and Afghanistan and you expect both teams to beat Afghanistan and Bangladesh and move through to the semi-finals, hopefully, that does happen. It sets it up for the possibility of Australia and India in a grand final which I’d absolutely love to happen.”

The 53-year-old was quick to name Australia as the favourites for their upcoming Super 8 clash versus India, mainly as they have already been playing in the West Indies.

Hogg opined, “But I think that first game between Australia and India in the super eights, the advantage would have to be to Australia because they’ve been playing in the West Indies where it’s been difficult, it’s been slow. Whereas the Indian team has been playing in New York where there’s been some seam movement, the batters haven’t been able to get their rhythm and also they’re coming from IPL where they were playing on a lot of flat wickets. So the adjustment is huge down there, that short turnaround, I think it’s going to be tough for India in the Super Eights.”

However, the Aussie pointed out that if the two teams meet in the final, it will be an even battle as Men in Blue would be more familiar with the conditions by then. 

Hogg added, “But it will be a different story when they get to the final, the contest will be a lot more even there because India would’ve been used to the conditions.”

Notably, India and Australia have faced each other in the last two men’s ICC finals, in WTC and ODI World Cup last year. On both the occasions, Australia got the better of Team India, hence, Rohit & Co. will be desperate to settle scores this time around.

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