International - ICC
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by Devesh Jaganath | in Cricket Predictions
The first of three ODIs between India and South Africa will get underway at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi on Sunday. The Proteas will enter the ODI leg of their tour in high spirits after sweeping the Men in Blue in the Test series 2-0. Let’s get into the match prediction.
India will be returning to limited-overs cricket for the first time since their tour Down Under, where they lost their ODI series 2-1 against Australia but bounced back to win the T20I leg by the same scoreline.
While the Men in Blue have struggled in Test cricket, their ODI form is impeccable as they’ve only lost two of their 11 matches in 2025, which included lifting the Champions Trophy in March.
Notably, the hosts will be without regular captain Shubman Gill due to injury. KL Rahul will lead the team, while stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to return to the squad.
Meanwhile, South Africa are returning to the white-ball format following a disappointing trip to Pakistan in the last month, where they lost their ODI and T20I series 2-1 each.
The Proteas last beat this opponent in an ODI series in 2021-22 at home (3-0). However, they lost the 2022-23 and 2023-24 series 2-1. They were eliminated in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy by New Zealand.
South Africa will be without Kagiso Rabada due to injury. Marco Jansen could be one to watch here.
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India - South Africa Key Points
- India have won nine of their last 11 ODIs.
- India have won two of their last three series against South Africa.
- India are the number one-ranked ODI team in the world.
- South Africa last won a bilateral series against this opponent in India in 2015.
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Our India vs South Africa Prediction
South Africa will undoubtedly be brimming with confidence coming into the ODI leg of this series after a stunning 2-0 victory in the Tests, which was their first series win in India in over two decades.
However, the Men in Blue have a different setup in ODIs with the likes of Kohli and Sharma set to return. This match will give us a clearer inaction of what to expect from this ODI leg, but we fancy the hosts to take the lead in this opening match. Our India vs South Africa prediction is India wins.
India vs South Africa - Other Interesting Predictions
Marco Jansen 2+ wickets
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