Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg (Twitter)
In the much-anticipated clash between India and South Africa in the first ODI at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, the Men in Blue aim to carry forward the momentum gained from their emphatic T20I series win. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India levelled the T20I series with a convincing 105-run victory at the same venue, setting the stage for an exciting 50-over contest.
KL Rahul takes the reins as captain for the ODI series, leading a refreshed Indian side that includes new faces. South Africa, under the leadership of Aiden Markram, is also bolstered by fresh additions to their squad after the T20Is. The backdrop to this encounter includes India's dominating 243-run win over South Africa in the recent ODI World Cup 2023, although the current ODI teams bear a new look. Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, and Shreyas Iyer are the only remnants from the November Eden Gardens clash.
Weather Prediction For 1st ODI
Accuweather
Expect widely scattered morning thunderstorms followed by mostly cloudy conditions throughout the day for the India vs South Africa 1st ODI in Johannesburg on December 17. With a high UV index of 11 (extreme), anticipate mild northwest winds at 13 km/h, gusting up to 32 km/h. The probability of precipitation stands at 44%, with a 26% chance of thunderstorms. Rainfall is expected to be 2.8 mm over one hour, accompanied by 82% cloud cover, suggesting the possibility of rain during the match.
History at the Wanderers Stadium favors South Africa, with only one out of five previous ODIs going in favor of India. The last 50-over encounter at this venue occurred five years ago, adding an element of unpredictability to the contest.
As the cricketing giants face off, weather conditions could play a crucial role.
 "Muskaan Bhatt")
