IND vs SA 1st ODI: Ruturaj Gaikwad Returns To ODI Team, Skipper KL Rahul Confirms His Batting Order

India vs South Africa 1st ODI: Ruturaj Gaikwad has made his return to the Indian team as he was included in the playing XI for the first ODI match against South Africa, which is being played at the JSCA International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. India are being captained by KL Rahul in the absence of Shubman Gill.

Ruturaj was preferred over Tilak Varma and Rishabh Pant for the No. 4 batter’s role. KL Rahul confirmed the news of Gaikwad’s selection in the playing XI and also stated that he will bat at No. 5.

“We would have bowled first as well. The preparation has been good, the energy is there with a lot of players coming back, and we want to enjoy ourselves in the middle. That’s what the chat has been, we need to use every opportunity we get in the ODI team, this is a great chance to challenge our skills against a very good team. Three spinners and three quicks for us today,” KL said after he lost the toss.

South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first as Temba Bavuma has been rested for the series opener.

“We’ll bowl first. Spent a couple of evenings, dew at night time, and it’ll be slightly easier to bat at night. Different personnel, the dressing room is in a good place with a lot of energy and fun. It’s an important series, the end role of the 2027 WC, still a bit of time, but we’re up against one of the best teams in the world. Just one spinner in Subrayen, I will bowl a bit – Temba and Maharaj have been rested, four seamers for us today,” SA skipper Markram said at the toss.

India headed into South Africa on the back of a 1-2 defeat against Australia. India have rested Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj, whereas Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer continue to recover from their respective injuries.

India vs South Africa 1st ODI Playing XIs:

India: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna

South Africa: Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram(c), Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman