South Africa vs India, 1st ODI: Weather and Pitch report

After a scintillating performance in the T20I series, the Indian team were able to level the series 1-1. India defeated South Africa by 106 runs in the third T20I courtesy of a splendid performance by Kuldeep Yadav and Suryakumar Yadav. With the action now shifting to the ODI series, both teams will be eager enough to start the series on a winning note.

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India secured a commanding 243-run victory over South Africa in their last ODI encounter during the 2023 World Cup. However, key players such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are rested for the ongoing ODI series, presenting a new-look Indian side led by KL Rahul. Both the teams have included a handful of youngsters in their squad. Similar to the T20I series between India and South Africa, the opening match of the ODI series is also under the threat of rain.

The scheduled venue for the series opener in Johannesburg might experience rain interruptions today, causing potential frustration for both fans and players. While the chances of rain were notably higher on the eve of the contest, there has been a significant improvement in the weather conditions on the day of the match, offering a more optimistic outlook for a complete 100-over game at this picturesque venue.

According to a report from AccuWeather, the likelihood of rain during the day is only 2%, with a slight increase to 7% during the night. The expected cloud cover at the venue is around 35%. However, the weather forecast for Sunday anticipates thunderstorms in the morning in Johannesburg, specifically between 6 AM and 8 AM local time, with a 51% chance of precipitation. However, as the day progresses, the weather is expected to improve, with no further rain and a temperature rise to 27 degrees Celsius.

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SA vs IND, 1^st ODI: Pitch report

The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg offers a balanced pitch with an average 1st innings score of 239 runs in the last 20 matches, assisting both batsmen and bowlers. Chasing is recommended, with the team batting second winning 60% of contests. The Pacers have been highly successful, claiming 71% of total wickets. In head-to-head ODIs, South Africa has won 50 matches against India who have won 38, and three matches ending in no results.

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The last five encounters have seen India winning three times while South Africa twice. India have also posted the highest score of 326 while South Africa have posted the lowest score of 83. The upcoming match promises an intriguing battle at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.