Team India call off the warm-up game ahead of South Africa Test series

The most talked about the contest on the cards is Team India’s tour of South Africa. They are set to play 3 Tests, 6 ODIs and 3 T20Is on what is expected to be a gruelling the tour. Virat Kohli & Co. had clarified that they will not get on with the series unless they get enough time to get accustomed to the conditions in South Africa.

The first match of the series is scheduled almost a week after they land in the country and were also supposed play a warm-up game ahead of the Test series. But Cricket South Africa (CSA) has confirmed that the visitors have cancelled their two-day warm-up match that was to be played at Boland Park.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has instead decided to opt for training sessions on the two days. Thus, despite their willingness to prepare better for the tour, the Men in Blue will go into the series without playing a single practice game. The first Test of the three-match series gets underway on 5 January in Cape Town.

CSA has released the updated itinerary for the tour:

“Please be advised that the two-day warm-up match for India at Eurolux Boland Park will no longer be taking place. India have opted for training sessions on those days,” CSA stated.

There is no word on the reason for the decision yet from the BCCI and will be interesting to see how skipper Kohli reacts to this development.

India men’s team tour schedule:

Test series-

1st Test – January 5-9 | PPC Newlands, Cape Town | 10:30 local time

2nd Test – January 13-17 | SuperSport Park, Centurion | 10:00 local time

3rd Test – January 24-28 | Bidvest Wanderers, Johannesburg | 10:00 local time

ODI series-

1st ODI – February 1 | Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban | 13:00 local time

2nd ODI – February 4 | SuperSport Park, Centurion | 13:00 local time

3rd ODI – February 7 | PPC Newlands, Cape Town | 10:00 local time

4th ODI – February 10 | Bidvest Wanderers, Johannesburg | 13:00 local time

5th ODI – February 13 | St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth | 13:00 local time

6th ODI – February 16 | SuperSport Park, Centurion | 13:00 local time

T20I series-

1st T20I – February 18 | Bidvest Wanderers, Johannesburg | 14:30 local time

2nd T20I – February 21 | SuperSport Park, Centurion | 18:00 local time

3rd T20I – February 24 | PPC Newlands, Cape Town | 18:00 local time