India vs South Africa, 1st T20I, Weather Forecast and Pitch Report of Kingsmead, Durban

Team India are set to commence their South Africa tour with a 3-match T20I series, starting on Sunday, December 10, at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. While Indian cricket fans eagerly await the Men in Blue in action, the weather forecast brings less favourable news.

Rain is anticipated to play spoilsport in the first T20I clash between India and South Africa. As per AccuWeather, there is a possibility of a thunderstorm with a 75% chance of rain during the match in Durban. The temperature is expected to hover around 20 degrees Celsius with 100% cloud cover, and humidity levels are predicted to be relatively high, reaching 86%.

Despite the weather concerns, Team India boast a commendable record at the Durban venue, remaining undefeated in the five T20I matches played so far. The Indian cricket team are scheduled to play 3 T20Is and ODIs, along with a 2-match Test series during this month-long tour. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the T20I side, while KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma will captain the ODI and Test squads, respectively.

Kingsmead Stadium Pitch Report:

As for the Kingsmead Stadium pitch, it is known for offering more pace and bounce in South Africa. However, in the white-ball format, the pitches have tended to be flat, allowing for high-scoring matches. Teams batting first have often had the advantage, with the average first innings score standing at 143. 

There might be some swing available for the bowlers early on, so batters will have to spend some time at the crease before playing their shots. Especially, Indian batters will have to adjust to the conditions as it's going to be a lot different from the Indian conditions. Recently, India won a five-match series quite comfortably against the Aussies, and they would be eager to continue their good form. However, it will not be an easy task against the Proteas, especially on their home turf.