19:55 hrs IST
Match abandoned
The match was abandoned in Dharamsala due to heavy rain. There was no ball played in the match and even the toss did not take place. Both the team share points in the three-match T20I series.
19:50 hrs IST
Giant screen says Match abandoned
There is a message of “Match abandoned” on the giant screen, reports Abhishek Paul. He has shared an image on Twitter. Always quick with the latest updates!
Match abandoned #INDvSA giant screen says!!!! @bcci @HTSportsNews pic.twitter.com/7GXIvIkD17— Abhishek Paul (@ThisissAbhi) September 15, 2019
19:40 hrs IST
No official word yet
There is no official word as of now on the rainfall situation. We will give you updates as and when we have something important to share.
19:15 hrs IST
Grim scenes
This is lookiing very bleak at the moment.
{{/usCountry}}{{^usCountry}}Things not looking great here in Dharamsala at the moment. It is pouring ⛈️⛈️😢 #TeamIndia #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/azf8NDMVTV— BCCI (@BCCI) September 15, 2019
Things not looking great here in Dharamsala at the moment. It is pouring ⛈️⛈️😢 #TeamIndia #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/azf8NDMVTV— BCCI (@BCCI) September 15, 2019
{{/usCountry}}18: 58 hrs IST
Official cut-off time
The official cut-off time to get a 5-over game is 9.46 PM IST. So we still have time but it’s still pouring down at Dharamsala and the uncovered areas of the ground are under water at the moment.
18:48 hrs IST
It’s not looking good
Things not looking great here in Dharamsala at the moment. It is pouring ⛈️⛈️😢 #TeamIndia #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/azf8NDMVTV— BCCI (@BCCI) September 15, 2019
18:38 hrs IST
Heavy rain now
Our correspondent Abhishek Paul tells us that the rain just got heavier at the HPCA stadium in Dharamsala. The umbrellas and rain coats are out. It doesn’t look good.
18:32 hrs IST
TOSS DELAYED!
It is still raining at the moment and the toss has been officially delayed. The umpires are in the middle taking a stock of the situation.
18:30 hrs IST
Men at work
This video shows the insurmountable task that the groundstaff at HPCA have in front of them.
Work in progress at the moment to get the ground ready here in Dharamsala 🤞🏻#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/Oqbsy3go0g— BCCI (@BCCI) September 15, 2019
18:15 hrs IST
Coach Ravi Shastri and Shikhar Dhawan bond ahead of 1st T20I
Ahead of the first T20I between India and South Africa, Team India head coach Ravi Shastri shared a picture with opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan on Sunday in which both men are seen engaged in some serious conversation. Shastri posted the picture on Twitter and wrote “Coffee, Mountains, Cricket and Conversation - with @SDhawan25 #TeamIndia #IndvSA,” as the caption.
Opening batsman Dhawan did not have a successful tour to West Indies as he managed to score just 26 runs in the three-match T20I series.
18:05 hrs IST
Rain returns
The villain of the night, rain has returned. It is not heavy, but the drizzle will only delay the groundsmen’s work of drying the field.
18:00 hrs IST
‘Rain has stopped’
GOOD NEWS! Our reporter Abhishek Paul has informed us that the rain has stopped in Dharamsala at the moment. If the ground is cleared of water, and there is no further rain interruption, we could have a full game on our hands. *Fingers crossed*
17:50 hrs IST
‘It is still drizzling’
Our reporter Abhishek Paul, as always, giving us all the latest updates from Dharamsala. He is saying it is “still drizzling” in the city.
The prospect of a full game, starting to look bleak at the moment.
17:40 hrs IST
PREVIEW: Seeking pieces of T20 puzzle
For all the shine that the Indian Premier League has brought to the country’s cricket owing to its riches and top players from around the world, it has not reflected proportionately in the national team’s T20 performances. The champions of the inaugural 2007 World T20—it triggered an explosion in the shortest format—have had to return empty-handed from the subsequent five editions.
The exposure at home has not always translated into success for India when it comes to the biggest stage. This despite having some of the most sought after stars in the game.
17:30 hrs IST
Numbers reveal India’s unlikely star in powerplay overs
Team India head coach Ravi Shastri outlined his plan as far as approaching the T20 format. He said that they have to look at different players for both the ODIs and T20Is and that younger players need to be given a longer rope to prosper in the shortest format. The Indian selectors announced a largely young side for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa.
The batting looks settled with the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma taking the stage at the top of the order. However, the bowling looks rather green and this is where, South Africa could target the young bowlers. However, there is pedigree in this young attack and Kohli will be keen to test them out.
17:20 hrs IST
Laxman with a word of caution for Shikhar Dhawan
Ahead of India’s home season which starts with the first T20I against South Africa at Dharamsala on Sunday, former India batsman VVS Laxman has stated that the Indian team management needs to take a call on whether opener Shikhar Dhawan is in their scheme of things for T20 World Cup next year.
“With the next T20 World Cup a little over a year away, India will have to decide whether Shikhar Dhawan is still the preferred opening partner for Rohit Sharma going forward,” Laxman wrote in his column for Times of India.
17:10 hrs IST
Match in danger
Our reporter, Abhishek Paul is reporting from the ground that it is “still raining in Dharamsala. There is a possibility that the match will not take place. Even if the rain stops. The wet outfield may cause a problem.”
Hmm... time to pray the rain gods?
17:00 hrs IST
Hello and welcome
Hello and welcome to our live blog on 1st T20I of India vs South Africa. This is the beginning of the preparation for the upcoming World Cup T20I which is set to take place next year. India have already defeated West Indies 3-0 in the shortest format, and will hope to continue the same form in the format at home against a stronger side. For Proteas, this will be the start of a new era - under a new style of management.