The first T20I between South Africa and India was called off due to rain in Durban, denying the capacity crowd any action. Kingsmead, celebrating its centenary this year, had no other international fixtures this summer and also marked the retirement of veteran groundsman Wilson Ngobese. Despite the washout, Kingsmead will still host domestic matches and SA20 fixtures early next year, including a first-class match between the Dolphins and Lions. South Africa’s limited international schedule means they will have to adjust their plans, with players like Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen only available for the second match before being released for Tests. India, on the other hand, will still be able to tinker with their combinations in their upcoming matches against Afghanistan in January. The second and third matches of the series are scheduled to take place in Gqeberha and Johannesburg, with rain forecasted in Gqeberha and cloudy skies over the Wanderers.
