India vs. South Africa: Champions Trophy Preview, Date, Start Time and More

Powerhouses India and South Africa will kick off Group B action in the Champions Trophy on Thursday, looking to get off to hot starts in the eight-nation tournament.

Where: Cardiff Wales Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, UK

When: Thursday, June 6 at 5:30 a.m. ET

Watch: ESPN3

To say this is going to be an epic battle would be an understatement. India—the reigning world champion—and South Africa are the No. 1 and No. 3 one-day teams in the world respectively, per ICC-Cricket.com. The two teams are sure to kick off the tournament in grand style.

South Africa may be without pace bowler Dale Steyn on Thursday due to a side strain, per BBC Sport, but the team still has a shot of uprooting India in the opening Group B game.

While India won the 2011 World Cup, it returns only three players—Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina—that played in the final against Sri Lanka. It has also lost five of its last seven internationals against South Africa.

Of course, Gary Kirsten's side have been cast as chokers throughout the years, failing to live up to their potential in major tournaments. South Africa has yet to win the World Cup, the 50-over World Cup or the World Twenty20.

Perhaps the fact that Kirsten will be leaving the side after the tournament will spur the South Africans to vanquish the label they have been given.

For those of you interested in how the two teams have fared against each other in the Champions Trophy, Cricket Updates has you covered:

India is coming off a 243-run blowout of reigning Champions Trophy winner Australia on Tuesday. South Africa, on the other hand, lost by six wickets to Pakistan on Monday.

Then again, those were just warm-ups. The real competition starts Thursday, and it couldn't get more real than South Africa. 

You may remember that South Africa defeated India by three wickets in the Group B stage of the 2011 World Cup. South Africa eventually fell in the quarterfinals to New Zealand, but the threat is definitely present for India on Thursday.

The status of Steyn will undoubtedly be big for South Africa—particularly given its showings in big tournaments in the past—but don't think the side is going to lie down if Steyn can't make it. Expect Thursday's affair to be a monumental battle to open up the Champions Trophy.