India vs South Africa: First ODI called off due to rain

The first of the three-match series against South Africa has been washed out due to incessant rain. Both the teams headed to Dharamshala to start off the series, however, due to persistent rain, it ended with no result.

Both the teams will now meet in Lucknow for the second ODI on 15^th March 2020.

The first #INDvSA ODI has been washed out.

That hasn't stopped India from having a good time though ✌️ pic.twitter.com/TxoDnFd0iL

— ICC (@ICC) March 12, 2020

Having been whitewashed in ODI and Test series against New Zealand, India would look to get back to winning run. India’s best batsman, Virat Kohli is not willing to get back to form even as the vice-captain is out of the squad owing to his calf problems. In addition to that, premier fast bowler Bumrah too had meagre returns in the recently concluded New Zealand tour. His ally, Bhuvneshwar Kumar would be coming into the series after a longstanding injury. And to be fair, one wouldn’t expect him to fire on all cylinders right from the word go.

SQUAD:

Virat Kohli (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Shubman Gill.

South Africa, on the other hand, would be full of confidence as they thrashed Australia 3-0 in their last series. Experienced men like Du Plessis and Rassie Van der Dussen will be making their comeback in the team. 

The #INDvsSA clash in Dharamshala has been abandoned due to rain, but the remaining two games in Lucknow and Kolkata could be played behind closed doors #CoronavirusPandemic https://t.co/Js3cfNFTYt

— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) March 12, 2020

SQUAD:

Quinton de Kock (capt, wk), Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis, Kyle Verreynne, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Jon-Jon Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lungi Ngidi, Lutho Sipamla, Beuran Hendricks, Anrich Nortje, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Janneman Malan: 

Sadly, it is two in two for South Africa in Dharamshala. There was never any chance once the angry clouds gathered at 13.30.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 12, 2020