India is set to face South Africa in the 2nd T20I in Gqeberha on Tuesday, following the rain-induced washout of the first T20I in Durban. Sunil Gavaskar, a cricket legend and part of the commentary panel, expressed his thoughts on the series opener’s abandonment and suggested that Cricket South Africa (CSA) should learn from Eden Gardens.
The first T20I in Durban, scheduled for 7:30 PM IST, experienced an indefinite delay in the toss, ultimately leading to the decision that no play was possible. With the opening match being washed out, India aims to secure a lead in the second T20I at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Tuesday.
Rain is anticipated to play a role again in Gqeberha, potentially impacting T20 World Cup preparations for both India and South Africa. The weather forecast indicates a high cloud cover of 99% with a 63% probability of precipitation, and a slight chance of rain (6%) in the evening.
The Durban washout posed challenges for India in finalizing their playing XI ahead of the ICC World Cup. Key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya are rested for the entire T20I series, providing an opportunity for young talents to showcase their skills against South Africa.
With skipper Suryakumar Yadav leading the Indian side, the team is focused on evaluating emerging players against the Proteas. India has only five T20Is remaining before the 2022 World Cup, including three games against Afghanistan in January. Notable players like Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, and opener Shubman Gill are expected to feature in the 2nd T20I against South Africa on Tuesday.
