The hosts India and the visitors South Africa were ready for the first game of the three-match ODI series at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (Dharamsala). But the rain and wet outfield have forced to abandon this opening game of the series.
This is the last international series for both India and South Africa in the ongoing 2019/20 season. Both teams are in very different forms at the present moment as India lost their last three ODIs while South Africa won all their last three ODIs.
Last time, India and South Africa met in the ODI cricket during the round-robin stage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 at Southampton on 5th June 2019. India won that match by six wickets.
Coming back to this Dharamsala ODI, the toss had been delayed due to wet conditions, while it was originally scheduled at 13:00 IST (also in local time). The umpires were initially scheduled to inspect the ground at 13:15 IST (also in local time). But that inspection was interrupted due to the rain.
For most of the entire original first session was wasted due to rain. While the cut-off time for a 20-over game was 18:30 IST (also in local time), the match officials decided to abandon the match around 17:20 IST (also in local time).
The cut-off time for a 20-over match is 6:30pm IST#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/4pPKJsmRBW
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 12, 2020
Apart from the weather issue, the stadium had a very lesser crowd due to the Covid-19 or Coronavirus outbreak.
Lucknow will host the next ODI between India and South Africa on this Sunday
After the abandoned result in the Dharamsala ODI, it is now going to be the two-match ODI series affair between India and South Africa. They will play the next game of this ODI series at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium (Lucknow) on this Sunday (15th March).
Eden Gardens (Kolkata) will host the last game of this series on 18th March.
Both the upcoming matches are likely to be played behind the close door as the Sports Ministry has recently advised it all the national federations.