IND vs SA, 1st ODI: After Test turmoil, India banks on white-ball reset against South Africa

India’s crippling loss in the Test series against South Africa will sting, for quite a while. Talk of wholesale personnel changes and systemic failures has only just begun, and the chatter is bound to get louder.

In the midst of crisis, the white-ball leg, which commences with the first ODI at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi on Sunday, serves as temporary distraction.

Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, who has taken the brunt of the blow for India’s red-ball debacles, must now focus on salvaging some positives from this South African visit.

To have Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli around should lift the mood in the camp. The duo – now playing only the ODI format – turned the clock back with an undefeated partnership to guide India past Australia at Sydney last month.

K.L. Rahul, the stand in captain, welcomed the return of Rohit and Kohli. “To have senior players in the team obviously makes the dressing room feel a lot more confident. Just having their presence and experience helps out a lot of players in the dressing room. We’re really happy that they’re here,” Rahul said on Saturday.

Rohit Sharma will shoulder added responsibility at the top order.
| Photo Credit:
RV MOORTHY

Kohli, in particular, has a fantastic record at this venue – scoring two centuries and a fifty in his five ODI outings here.

Kohli and Rohit must shoulder added responsibility, given that two top-order slots have been left vacant due to injuries to Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.

Gill’s absence provides an excellent chance for Yashasvi Jaiswal to showcase his 50-over skills. A naturally attacking opener, Jaiswal has played only one ODI thus far. Big scores in this three-match leg could see the southpaw carve a niche for himself in this format.

With Rahul keen to continue batting at six, Tilak Varma could take Iyer’s spot at four. Tilak sent down a few offies at the nets on Saturday – a valuable, additional trait that could help him grab a spot in the eleven.

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has featured in 11 ODIs, leads the bowling attack.

South Africa, riding high on confidence, is at near full strength. Kagiso Rabada is the lone absentee (rib injury), but the side has ample pace fillers in Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger and Corbin Bosch.

Captain Temba Bavuma will relish batting alongside old mate Quinton de Kock – a tried and tested combination in the PowerPlay.

Aiden Markram and Matthew Breetzke, who had made a bright start to his ODI career, complete a stacked top-order.

Can India ease the pain ever so slightly with a stellar white-ball effort?

Published on Nov 29, 2025