India will take on South Africa in the first ODI of the three-match series at Ranchi’s JSCA International Stadium Complex. The match will start at 1:30pm IST. This is India’s ODI series following a Test series loss to South Africa. India went on to be decimated at both Eden Gardens in Kolkata and Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. Shubman Gill, who sustained a neck injury in the 1st Test, will miss this ODI series as well.
KL Rahul to captain Team India
KL Rahul will lead the Indian cricket team, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remaining under the spotlight. Yashasvi Jaiswal is likely to replace Gill at the top of the order, while Ruturaj Gaikwad is primed to fill Iyer’s spot in the middle order. The final playing XI will depend on whether India opt for two all-rounders, including a seam-bowling option in Nitish Kumar Reddy.
What about the Proteas unit?
South Africa, on the other hand, will be without Kagiso Rabada due to injury. Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma are expected to bolster their batting lineup. Markram is likely to open the innings while Bavuma could bat at No. 3. Quinton de Kock, who had an amazing ODI series in Pakistan, will be the cynosure of all eyes.
What is the surface in Ranchi?
Ranchi’s JSCA International Stadium Complex has hosted only five ODIs before this one. The pitch is generally on the slower side, with only one score of over 300 successfully defended in previous matches. However, chases of 270-280 have been challenging too. Weather conditions are perfect for cricket but dew could play a major role in the match’s outcome.
Predicted XIs of India and South Africa
India likely XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad/Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul (captain wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.
South Africa likely XI: Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Rubin Hermann, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi.
H2H record between the two sides
As per ESPNcricinfo, the two sides have clashed against each others on 94 occasions. India have claimed 40 wins with the Proteas winning 51 (NR: 3).
What are the records in store?
Rohit Sharma is one six away from 350 in ODIs. He is also 98 shy of 20000 runs in international cricket.
Virat Kohli is 32 runs away from becoming the 2nd-highest scorer in India vs South Africa ODIs. Kohli (1504) can get past Jacques Kallis, who has 1535 runs.
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