Rain 'Likely' To Play Spoilsport Again In SA-IND 2nd T20I - Reports 

Kashish Chadha

image-lq1ufly6Durban faced a complete washout in the first T20I (Twitter)

Prediction is for "high chances" of rain even in the second South Africa versus India T20I scheduled in Gqeberha on Tuesday (December 12) as bad weather conditions at the start of the Proteas summer continue to play spoilsport on the marquee series. 

According to a report in Indian Express, the penultimate T20I of the three-match series "might also be a washout" like the one in Durban on Sunday (December 10) when persistent rains and a wet outfield denied a packed crowd at the Kingsmead ground any action and forced them to leave home frustrated.

The situation would've been equally annoying and disappointing for players from both sides hoping to put in a strong performance at the beginning of the series while bolstering their respective cases for selection in the build-up to the men's T20 World Cup 2024 next June. 

Rain Could Lead To Another SA-IND Washout 

"The weather forecast for Gqeberha indicates cloudy conditions with a high chance of rain showers, around 70 per cent precipitation," stated the Indian Express report. 

"The temperature at the venue is projected to be around 21 degrees Celsius, with humidity levels at approximately 75 per cent, and a wind speed of around 35 kmph."

For India, one more washout will leave them with just four more T20Is to prepare towards the biannual ICC event. After the T20Is against South Africa, the Men in Blue play only one more series - at home in January versus Afghanistan - prior to the T20 World Cup. 

The small window to trial players via T20Is could mean the IPL 2024 from late March to the fag end of May, especially the first half of the next edition of the marquee T20 league, holding critical weightage for the selectors to assess the right options to take to the Caribbean & USA.