In the first match of the five-match T20 series, India is set to face Australia at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on November 23 (Thursday). This clash comes merely four days after India's defeat in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 final against Australia. Although both teams met in the World Cup 2023 final recently, this time around, there are numerous changes in their squads, featuring only a handful of players from the previous ICC event.
Weather conditions have been a focal point of interest for fans ahead of this highly anticipated match. According to AccuWeather, Visakhapatnam is expected to have a temperature around 28 degrees Celsius, with humidity reaching approximately 63 percent. There's a 60 percent chance of rain in the city, primarily forecasted before the match starts, potentially in the morning and later in the afternoon.
To fans' relief, the prediction indicates clearing skies during the playing hours, minimising interruptions, and allowing the match to proceed smoothly. Although there might be a slight delay in the toss due to weather conditions, a complete washout of the match is not expected. Cloudy temperatures during the game could impact bowling and fielding strategies.
There might be a slight delay in the toss due to weather conditions, but it's unlikely that the entire match will be affected. During playtime, the stadium is anticipated to have cloudy conditions, potentially influencing the game dynamics, especially for bowlers and fielders. Weather.com also predicts a slight chance of rain during the match, with partly cloudy conditions expected.
The match is set to kick off at 7 PM IST, with the toss scheduled for 6:30 PM IST. Both teams enter the series with high hopes, especially after Australia's recent victory in the ODI World Cup. India, under stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav, aims for a strong start against the formidable Australian team led by 37-year-old Matthew Wade.
The first T20I between India and Australia will be aired live on Sports18 and Colors Cineplex TV channels. Additionally, viewers can catch the live stream of the match on Jio Cinema.