Lift off.

Too full.

Clipped through mid-wicket for the same result.

The Barbados crowd erupts.

Too wide.

Virat Kohli drives easily through the covers for four.

Marco Jansen will have a big part to play in these first couple of overs.

Clipped to mid-wicket for a single by Rohit Sharma.

Early nerves settled for both parties.

When these two teams met in the group stages of the 50-over World Cup in November, India won by a whopping 243 runs.

Tall fast bowler Marco Jansen bowled 9.4 overs for 94 runs.

He'll fancy proving a point today. He's got the first over.

Markram is a very level captain. They have got through some tight situations and been challenged in ways India haven't. India's expectation is coming from outside and that can weigh heavy. I expect this to be a very good final.

They've got a formidable batting line-up to contend with, though.

Virat Kohli has been all over the place throughout the competition but Rohit Sharma has led from the front gloriously, with consecutive half-centuries leading into this final.

Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya complete an intimidating top six.

So unsurprisingly, after convincing semi-final wins, both teams are unchanged.

South Africa would have preferred to bat first as Markram made pretty clear, but they should have full faith in their bowling attack.

Jansen, Rabada, Nortje, Maharaj and Shamsi have most bases covered.

India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (capt), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Hello from Bridgetown.

Despite the forecast the weather is hot and sunny and we're all ready to go.

India flags were unfurled on flights into Barbados yesterday and there are plenty of supporters in blue around. It's going to be a loud one.

India fans were singing and dancing around the Sir Garfield Sobers statue when I arrived earlier.

South Africa captain Aiden Markram: "We definitely would've batted too. It looks pretty dry but hopefully there's something in it for us with the ball and we can put them under pressure.

"We have not been at our best yet but we have found ways to win which gives us a lot of confidence. We are striving for the perfect game today.

"I'm just telling the boys to take it all in. There's no pressure on us today. We've never been in a final before and we have a huge opportunity."

India captain Rohit Sharma: "It looks a good pitch. We played one game here and the scores have been really good.

"It's about understanding individual roles. It's important to stay calm and play like it's another international against a top team. Everyone will have their own way of doing it.

"South Africa have played really good cricket and so have we.

"Different individuals have stepped up, that is what is required in team sport. That is what we want today, everyone coming together to get the job done."

Advantage Rohit Sharma!

He doesn't hesitate in choosing to bat first in Barbados. Runs on the board in a final, and all that.

Good afternoon, and welcome to the T20 World Cup final!

As my colleague Matthew Henry says, history beckons either way in Barbados.

India haven't won a World Cup since the 50-over glory in 2011, their wait for a T20 win goes back even further to 2007.

As for South Africa, they've finally overcome their semi-final nightmares to reach their first men's final.

Both are unbeaten in this tournament so far. South Africa have edged a few close ones, India have dominated pretty much everyone.

Both were particularly convincing in their semi-finals. Let's hope we're in for a thriller.

Or their first ever?

Image source, Getty Images

Will it be their first world title for 13 years?

Image source, Getty Images