Team India's two-day practice match in South Africa cancelled

New Delhi, Dec 11: Team India have set sights on their first overseas assignment early next year when land on South African shores to face a dominant side.

The ongoing series against Sri Lanka has already been billed as a preparation series for India's tour down under. Keeping the tough batting conditions and South African pitches in mind, the team has already started playing on bouncy and seam-friendly tracks.

But Virat Kohli and his boys will have to face Faf du Plessis and his boys without playing even a single warm-up game. Cricket South Africa announced on Monday (December 11) that the two-day warm-up game India has been cancelled.

Kohli and his boys will instead conduct training sessions on those days before heading into the three-match Test series, starting on January 5, 2018, in Cape Town, without a practice match.

"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," the release from CSA said.

No official reason has been given for the cancellation of the warm-up game.

CSA also announced changes made to starting times for day-night games (T20Is apart) during its home season, with all games kicking off half an hour earlier.

According to the updated schedule, the day-night four-day Test against Zimbabwe will start at 13:30 local time, instead of the originally scheduled 14:00 local time.

Similarly, five of the six ODIs against India have been given a half hour earlier start, with the first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth ODIs starting at 13:00 local time, and not 13:30.

Team India are scheduled to leave for South Africa on December 27.