Overview

• India arrive unbeaten after wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan, while South Africa regained confidence by defeating New Zealand following their 69 all out against England.
• Heavy rain on the eve left puddles as ground staff covered the surface and ICC officials conducted checks, disrupting scheduled training at the ACA-VDCA Stadium.
• Both camps expect spin to shape the contest, with Nadine de Klerk saying whoever handles it best will prevail and Jemimah Rodrigues suggesting a par total near 270 on this surface.
• South Africa plan to target Smriti Mandhana early and break India’s prolific opening stand, emphasizing early wickets to quiet the home crowd.
• AccuWeather flagged a red alert and the IMD warned of rain and thundershowers around start time, so the toss could be delayed and DLS scenarios are possible.