India vs South Africa ODI: 3 major talking points ahead of first one-day international in Ranchi
1. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli set to return to action
India come into this ODI series in need of a response after suffering back-to-back Test defeats against South Africa on home soil for the first time since 2000, while they were also whitewashed at home by New Zealand less than 12 months ago. Check out our India vs South Africa prediction.
Much has been made about the Men in Blue’s selection in recent times, with Gautam Gambhir seemingly attempting to usher in the next generation, but many feel that too many changes too quickly have contributed to their downfall in the longest format.
However, this series will likely give us a better indication if it is in fact team balance that is the issue, with stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli set to return to the squad, providing experience and added strength in the batting order.
Perhaps the one concern that still lingers is how match-ready the duo are, given that they no longer play T20Is or Tests, and have had limited time in domestic cricket ahead of this series against an in-form Proteas outfit.
2. How will India fare under new leadership in KL Rahul
India’s biggest issue during the Test series was their batting consistency, and that will face further examination in the first ODI, with Shubman Gill ruled out through injury, along with all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel.
KL Rahul has been entrusted to lead the team with Shreyas Iyer serving as his deputy, and their temperament will be tested to the max here. Rahul, in particular, is coming off a disappointing tour to Australia, where he only managed 49 runs in two innings.
Given that he has the likes of Sharma and Kohli to lean on for advice and guidance, it will be interesting to see how he handles the tactical side of the match, particularly the bowling, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj also missing from the starting lineup.
3. South Africa carrying momentum into ODI series
While India are ranked as the number one team in ODI cricket, momentum cannot be quantified in rankings, and South Africa come into this leg of the tour with their tails up after two genuinely incredible performances.
Additionally, the Proteas have also retained several players who shone in the Test series, such as Marco Jansen, Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram, while Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock are also set to return to the team’s 50-over setup.
Jansen, in particular, is a player brimming with confidence after proving almost unplayable at times during the Test series, while producing a Player of the Match performance in Guwahati, taking seven wickets in the match, and also playing a superb knock of 93 in the first innings.
India and South Africa Squads for ODI (1/3)
India ODI Squad: KL Rahul (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh
South Africa ODI Squad: Temba Bavuma (C), Aiden Markram, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Marco Jansen, Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann, Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Prenelan Subrayen
