After levelling the T20I series, both India and South Africa would be heading into the three-match ODI series with fresh faces. India is set to introduce some new faces, with KL Rahul taking on the captaincy role, while South Africa, led by Aiden Markram, will see a fresh lineup after his captaincy in the T20Is. Despite India’s previous 243-run victory over South Africa in the ODI World Cup at home, the upcoming match will feature a significantly revamped squad, with only Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, and Shreyas Iyer retaining their positions from the team that competed at Eden Gardens in November.
The pitch at the Wanderers Stadium is known to be batting-friendly, offering a flat surface and shorter boundaries that batters enjoy. Historically, this venue has witnessed high-scoring games, including the famous chase of 434 by South Africa against Australia in 2006. The average first innings score here is 241, and teams chasing have an advantage with a win ratio of 30-23. However, during the recent T20 match, Indian spinners were able to extract turns, indicating that the pitch can also offer something for the bowlers.
South Africa and India have faced off in ODIs 91 times, with South Africa winning 50 matches, India winning 38, and three matches ending without a result. In the most recent five ODIs between the two teams, South Africa has won twice, and India has emerged victorious three times. The highest score in these five matches was 326 by India, while the lowest was 83 by South Africa.
Johannesburg Weather Forecast on December 17
On December 17, 2023, the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg is set to host the first ODI between South Africa and India. The weather forecast for the day indicates a possibility of thunderstorms in the morning, particularly around 6 AM and 8 AM local time, with a 51 percent chance of precipitation. Despite the threat of rain, the temperature is expected to be relatively warm, starting at 23°C and potentially rising to 27°C as the day progresses. The weather forecast for Johannesburg on December 17 indicates a 0 percent chance of precipitation.
South Africa vs India squad
South Africa: David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram (c), Andile Phehlukwayo, Wiaan Mulder, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Kyle Verreynne (wk), Keshav Maharaj, Lizaad Williams, Mihlali Mpongwana, Nandre Burger, Ottniel Baartman and Tabraiz Shamsi
India: Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (c & wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal