**India vs South Africa 1st T20I washed out due to rain in Durban**
The first T20 International match between India and South Africa was washed out due to heavy rain in Durban. The game was scheduled at Kingsmead Stadium on Sunday, December 10, but strong showers prevented any play. Not even the toss could take place before the game was called off. Fans had gathered in large numbers, but they left disappointed after the official cancellation.
This series is important as both India and South Africa continue preparations for the T20 World Cup in 2024. The Indian team is missing several top players, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The team is being led by Suryakumar Yadav in their absence. Young players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, and Tilak Varma are expected to make a mark.
Hardik Pandya is also missing the series due to injury. This gives opportunities to other all-rounders such as Shivam Dube. South Africa, on the other hand, is led by Aiden Markram and has a fresh squad featuring several young talents.
The Durban rain came as a major spoiler for both teams. The outfield was soaked, and the weather didn’t improve in time. Officials waited for a while, hoping the rain would stop, but conditions remained unsuitable for play.
This match was to be the first game of the three-match T20I series. The second T20 will now be held on Tuesday, December 12, at Gqeberha. All eyes will again be on Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Arshdeep Singh from the Indian side. South Africa also has big hopes from Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen.
With the T20 World Cup just months away, both teams hope to play meaningful games in this series. Fans will be hoping the weather allows the rest of the games to take place.
Rain interruptions are not new in Durban, but the complete washout is still disappointing. Officials will now monitor the forecast for the second match.
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