India's tour to South Africa takes an exciting turn as the focus shifts to the 50-over format following the T20I series. The teams, having drawn the T20Is 1-1 with one match washed out, now aim to kick off the ODIs on a positive note. The inaugural match is scheduled for Sunday (December 17) at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, commencing at 1:30 pm IST/8 am GMT/10 am local time.

Head to Head - In the head-to-head record, India and South Africa have engaged in 91 ODIs. India has emerged victorious in 38 encounters, while South Africa boasts 50 wins, with three matches concluding without a result.

Pitch Report - Wanderers Stadium, known for its batting-friendly wickets, presents a flat surface and shorter boundaries. However, the recent T20 encounter witnessed South African batters struggling against Indian spinners in the second innings. Despite this, the venue holds a historic record of a successful chase of 434 runs in 2006, highlighting its unpredictable nature. The team batting second holds a slight advantage with a 30-23 win-loss record, and the average first innings score stands at 241.

Weather Report - AccuWeather predicts thunderstorms in the morning, followed by mostly cloudy conditions throughout the day in Johannesburg. The temperature is anticipated to be 23°C at the start, rising to 27°C later. A 51 percent chance of precipitation, including thunderstorms around 6 AM and 8 AM Local Time on match day, suggests possible delays or interruptions during the IND vs SA 1st ODI.

Where to watch - Cricket fans can catch the action live on the Star Sports network in various languages. Indian viewers have the option to stream the match on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website, while Doordarshan will broadcast the match on its terrestrial network. As anticipation builds, fans eagerly await the outcome of this ODI series between two cricketing giants.

Picture Credit - myKhel