India vs South Africa, 1st ODI, Weather Forecast and Pitch Report of New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

KL Rahul and Aiden Markram. (Photo Source: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

India and South Africa will face each other in the first ODI of the three-match series at Wanderers Stadium on Sunday, December 17. After a spectacular T20I series that saw Suryakumar Yadav’s India level the series, all eyes are now on the 50-over format.

The Men in Blue, riding high on an emphatic 106-run victory in the T20Is, are set to face a Proteas side led by Aiden Markram. Both teams are introducing fresh faces, with KL Rahul taking the captaincy for India and Aiden Markram leading South Africa.

While memories of India’s 243-run victory in the ODI World Cup are still fresh, this clash promises to be a different ball game. The squad has transformed, with only Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, and Shreyas Iyer retaining their spots from the World Cup lineup.

Reflecting on their clashes in 2022, South Africa dominated at home with a 3-0 whitewash, but India turned the tables, securing a 2-1 victory in their home series. The Wanderers Stadium, where the two teams have played five games so far, favours South Africa as they have won four matches.

A mix of thunderstorms and clouds are predicted

AccuWeather predicts a mix of thunderstorms and clouds. The temperature is expected to hover around 23°C at the start, reaching 27°C later in the day. However, with a 51 percent chance of precipitation, there is a possibility of rain interrupting the game, particularly during the morning hours.

New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Pitch Report

The Wanderers Stadium pitch, known for its batting-friendly nature and shorter boundaries, might witness a twist. While historically favoring the chasing team with a 30-23 advantage, the recent T20 encounter saw South African batters struggling against Indian spinners in the second innings.

Though the record 434 chase in 2006 feels like a distant memory, recent games affirm that any score is chasable at this venue. With the average first innings score standing at 241, one can expect an enthralling battle between bat and ball.

Check: IND vs SA Live Match Updates