Still reeling from a 0–2 Test defeat, India enter the ODI leg in Ranchi searching for answers and redemption. The return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, two giants of the format, offers both stability and scrutiny as they build towards the 2027 World Cup.
With six ODIs coming up, each game doubles as an evaluation of whether the veteran pair can still anchor India’s 50-over blueprint.
South Africa’s Tailwind and a Warning
Fresh off a historic Test-series win, South Africa arrive confident and combative.
When you add those two names to the line-up, we expect a full house. They are vastly experienced and dangerous, but we want to focus on the damage we can cause.
Skipper Temba Bavuma echoed the excitement while staying grounded: “It’s exciting for the locals… the energy is different when those two big guys are around. We’ll prepare for them like any other players.”
Selection Juggling for India
India will miss Bumrah, Siraj, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer, leaving stand-in captain KL Rahul and coach Gautam Gambhir with tricky decisions. With the top order partly unsettled, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad both have a shot at claiming long-term roles.
Rutu is a top-class player… with limited chances he has shown what he can do.
The bigger concern, Rahul admitted, is India’s sudden struggle against spin: “We have not been able to play spinners well. We recognise it, and we’re trying to find solutions. It won’t happen overnight.”
India’s pace attack will feature Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana, while Kuldeep Yadav remains the lone specialist spinner.
South Africa’s Attack Minus Rabada
South Africa will be without Kagiso Rabada, still recovering from a rib stress injury, but remain potent. Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, and Nandre Burger lead the seam attack; Keshav Maharaj anchors the spin unit.
Quinton de Kock, back in ODI form with a hundred and two fifties in Pakistan, strengthens a lineup featuring Markram, Rickelton, and a young middle order. Their only gap: a specialist finisher, an issue that may surface in tight chases.
A Series With Bigger Stakes
With the next ODI World Cup 18 months away, this series is more than a routine bilateral. India seek clarity; South Africa seek continuity. Both sides have questions, and whichever solves them first will walk out with momentum, and a psychological edge.
Probable XIs India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (capt & wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna. South Africa: Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (capt), Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Rubin Hermann, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi.
