On Sunday, December 17, India and South Africa will play their first One-Day International (ODI) of the three-match series at Wanderers Stadium. With the thrilling Twenty20 International series having seen India led by Suryakumar Yadav level the series, all eyes are now on the 50-over format.
The Men in Blue, fresh off a decisive 106-run victory in the Twenty20 Internationals, will take on Aiden Markram’s Proteas team.
With Aiden Markram guiding South Africa and KL Rahul taking the captain’s seat for India, both sides are starting new players.
Even though India’s 243-run triumph in the ODI World Cup is still very much in the memory, this match should be very different. Only Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, and Shreyas Iyer remain from the World Cup starting lineup; the rest of the team has changed.
When looking back on their matchups in 2022, South Africa dominated at home, winning 3-0, but India turned the tables, winning their home series 2-1. South Africa has won four of the five games the two teams have played at the Wanderers Stadium, favoring them.
Clouds and thunderstorms are expected to coexist.
AccuWeather forecasts a combination of clouds and thunderstorms. Early in the day, the temperature is predicted to be in the range of 23°C to 27°C. There is a 51 percent probability of precipitation, so rain might potentially disrupt the game, especially in the morning.
Pitch report for New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg
There could be a twist to the Wanderers Stadium pitch, which is renowned for its shorter boundaries and batting-friendly nature. In the most recent Twenty20 match, South African hitters struggled against Indian spinners in the second innings, despite the fact that history favors the chasing team with a 30-23 edge.
Even though the 2006 record 434 pursuit seems like a long time ago, current games confirm that any score can be chased at this location. With a first innings average of 241, one may anticipate a thrilling struggle between bat and ball.