'A World Cup final where history beckons either way'

History beckons successful Barbados.

If India triumph nan T20 World Cup last connected Saturday it will unafraid their first world title for 13 years - a hold excessively agelong for nan sport's overwhelming superpower.

Were South Africa to triumph it would beryllium their first World Cup triumph successful their agelong cricketing history.

"We haven't achieved what we would for illustration to connected nan world stage," Proteas skipper Aiden Markram said.

"That is what gets nan juices going for nan boys to effort to execute it.

"You person seen it successful nan adjacent results. The will to triumph drives you to, by hook aliases by crook, get nan occupation done."

South Africa's past successful men's World Cups is agelong and painful.

Greats of nan crippled - Jacques Kallis, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and nan rest, did not get to this point.

"There has been a batch of support from backmost location from past players, which is typical for us," Markram added.

"They are nan guys that inspired america erstwhile we were younger.

"To beryllium making them proud and having their support intends a hellhole of a batch to america arsenic a team."

The Proteas grounded to advancement from their first 7 semi-finals - 5 successful nan 50-over tourney and 2 successful nan T20 format.

They were beaten by nan rainfall successful 1992, Donald's run-out and Herschelle Gibbs' dropped drawback successful 1999 and Grant Elliott's last-over blitz successful 2015.

That each changed connected Wednesday erstwhile nan existent broadside thrashed Afghanistan.

"After nan title we will beryllium backmost and really admit what we person achieved truthful acold arsenic a team," Markram said.

"Whether we triumph aliases suffer we person gone a measurement further and that is going successful nan correct direction.

"Hopefully successful nan years to travel it tin break nan load of what different group person said astir america arsenic a team."

While South Africa are appearing successful their first World Cup final, India are successful their 2nd successful 8 months.

They made likewise serene advancement to nan 50-over showpiece connected location ungraded past year, only to frost successful nan last in conclusion by Australia.

Much has been made of India's much fierce strategies successful white-ball cricket, led by skipper Rohit Sharma, but that was a misstep astatine nan worst imaginable time.

"Players are very bully astatine moving connected from things, of recognizing things," India coach Rahul Dravid said.

"Just arsenic we will move connected from Ahmedabad, I'm judge South Africa will not beryllium reasoning astir history and it will beryllium a caller day."

Having been an land populated by England fans for nan past 4 weeks, India supporters person arrived complete nan past fewer days successful Barbados - sensing their side's moment.

Since winning nan World Cup astatine location successful 2011, India person mislaid a 50-over last and a T20 final, arsenic good arsenic 4 semi-finals.

A state of 1.4bn people, a cricket committee that takes almost 40% of nan game's revenue, has been made to wait.

But, acold distant from home, location is simply a emotion this could yet beryllium nan clip for a squad packed pinch superstars.

Their only adjacent crippled has been nan triumph complete rivals Pakistan successful nan group stage, and nan thrashing of England connected Thursday re-emphasises their position arsenic favourites.

South Africa, meanwhile, person been buoyed by nan truth they person travel done tight games.

The connection 'choke' follows South African cricket astir but this team, truthful acold astatine least, has been attempting to banish that.

"There person been adjacent moments successful games that would person affected results but we managed to triumph those moments," added Markram.

"To do that two, three, 4 times has fixed nan squad belief we tin triumph from immoderate position."

Bangladesh were beaten by 4 runs, Nepal conscionable one. The Proteas were losing against England successful St Lucia until a superb last 3 overs.

"They are nan champion and astir balanced 2 teams successful nan tournament," erstwhile England bowler Steven Finn said.

"From what I person seen successful nan past mates of games South Africa are adjacent to putting together nan cleanable game."

A lucifer involving India ever involves talk of their erstwhile skipper Virat Kohli.

In this tourney he has struggled - 5 single-figure scores retired of 7 and a precocious people of 37, starring Markram to beryllium asked if he was worried astir nan awesome man coming bully connected nan biggest stage.

"I don't deliberation it worries me," Markram said plainly. South Africa request nary reminder of his talents.

Kohli deed 72 not retired successful 1 of those erstwhile semi-final defeats, successful Mirpur successful 2014.

India flew into Barbados connected Thursday night, pursuing their triumph against England successful Guyana.

South Africa, who hit Afghanistan 24 hours earlier, had a six-hour hold successful Trinidad because of a landing nonaccomplishment of a mini craft successful Barbados, which unopen nan island's runway.

"You person conscionable sewage to ace on," Markram said pinch a smile, asked if it had impacted their preparation.

"There is nary constituent sulking astir and making it much miserable."

Barbados is besides bracing itself for a tropical storm, expected to get connected Monday.

More rainfall is forecast complete nan play but a reserve time is successful place, dissimilar for England's semi-final, meaning this lucifer could spell into Sunday.

In nan highly improbable script nary consequence was possible, India and South Africa would beryllium declared associated winners.

That would let some to extremity their wait.

In truth, for 1 it will support connected rolling on.

Listen to unrecorded Test Match Special commentary of South Africa v India connected BBC Sounds, pinch in-play clips and unrecorded matter commentary connected nan BBC Sport website and app.