(Cricket News) India’s tour of South Africa got off to a rocky start when the first T20I was called off due to heavy rains in Durban. Cricket South Africa waited until the very last minute as required by the rules, but the rains showed no signs of stopping, so in the end the cricket administration decided to call off the match. The first T20I international was delayed because of the rain, and fans prayed to the rain gods for their team to win as soon as possible.

Rain greets the young team India, and the first T20 international is postponed. Fans are pleading with the rain gods for the match to start as soon as possible. The Indians, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, will play the Proteas in the opening game of the three-match T20I series.

The Indians enter the match high, having won the series against the Aussies at home, but they will not be taking too much solace from that victory because it came against a depleted Australian lineup in the wake of the World Cup. Additionally, the batting-friendly conditions in India will aid the style of their batsmen.

While some players will have the chance to simply lock up their spot in the India T20 XI ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, which is less than 6 months away, others, like Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer, will have the opportunity to simply cement their place in the team.

However, playing in South Africa will be a whole different ball game as the swinging and seaming conditions in the SENA country are unlikely to offer any solace to the Indian batsmen, especially batsmen like Shreyas Iyer who could once again be tested on his vulnerability to the short ball.

Meanwhile, the Proteas will be without the services of experienced pacer Kagiso Rabada due to injury, while other pacers like Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi will return to their franchises after the second T20I to play domestic 4-day cricket.

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