Today’s match between South Africa and Sri Lanka will serve as the tournament’s opening match. The contest will take place at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Anrich Nortje, Sisanda Magala, Wanindu Hasaranga, and top pacers Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Madushanka are not available, leaving the Proteas and Lankan Lions without several crucial pacers as they enter the field.
Nortje won’t be playing today; therefore, Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee of South Africa will try their luck at testing the opposition.
Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage, the spin tandem for the island nation, will continue to be under pressure.
The 2023 Asia Cup final loss and the Lankans’ underwhelming showings in the warm-up matches for the major cricket event make today’s encounter between the two sides particularly intriguing.
Sri Lanka lost both of its exhibition games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Additionally, South Africa dropped their exhibition match to New Zealand.
Both teams have already played each other 80 times in this format, with the Proteas winning 45 games and Sri Lanka winning 33.
In the meantime, Delhi’s stadium will be helpful to spinners, and given the current situation, both teams would aim to bowl first.
Squads for South Africa vs. Sri Lanka
Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma (captain), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Lungi Ngidi are all South African players.
Kasun Rajitha, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal-Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dunith Wellalage, and Dhananjaya de Silva are all players from Sri Lanka.
