India to Destroy South Africa! Pant or Gaikwad? Predicting India’s Strongest Playing 11 for the 2nd odi in Rai
India selected three spinners and the same number of fast bowlers in the opening match. Rishabh Pant was replaced by Ruturaj Gaikwad, while Nitish Kumar Reddy was replaced as the all-rounder by Washington Sundar. In this encounter, India is unlikely to make any significant changes.
Pant may take Ruturaj’s position if the team’s management wishes to test their bench strength. Both Pant and KL Rahul are part of this series. In the absence of regular captain Shubman Gill, KL is leading the squad, thus he will undoubtedly play. However, the most disputed question is how he may fit into the playing eleven with Pant and Rahul.
India’s concerns remain unresolved.
The squad management will want to give Ruturaj Gaikwad time, since dismissing him from the playing XI after a single failure would not be ideal. Despite winning the first match, India’s anxieties have not eased. Gaikwad, who performed admirably in List A cricket, was thrown in at number four, but he did not look ready for it.
KL Rahul came in at number six. Washington Sundar is used to experimenting with the batting order. He was thrown in at number five in the first ODI after starting at number three in the Kolkata Test against South Africa, however he was unable to play a significant innings. In just three overs, he conceded eighteen runs. But it doesn’t appear realistic that Washington will be replaced by Nitish Reddy.
For India to win the series, Rohit and Kohli are essential.
The ODI series’ most talked-about players are Rohit and Kohli. These two batters currently play only one for India, and spectators like watching them on the field. The star duo thrilled the audience with a century partnership in the first match, and they will be expected to play a similar innings again.
India overcame South Africa by 17 runs in the opening match in Ranchi, due to Kohli’s fifty-second ODI century and Rohit’s aggressive 57. Every game is an opportunity for Kohli and Rohit to demonstrate their form and fitness while the 2027 ODI World Cup is still two years away. The architects of India’s triumphs in the last two ODIs, Rohit and Kohli, have strengthened their argument that South Africa should host the World Cup.
Bavuma may return
South Africa played the first ODI without captain Temba Bavuma and spinner Keshav Maharaj, who were rested. Their comeback will boost the team. Two changes are probable in the South African squad. One of Breetzke or Tony deZorzi may have to sit out due to Bavuma’s comeback.
Team India’s Strongest Playing 11 for the 2nd 50-over match
India: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad/Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul (captain and wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.
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