India’s losing streak in tosses continues as Proteas opt to field in Rohit and Kohli’s first home outing in over a year
India and South Africa, additionally, are being led by KL Rahul and Aiden Markram respectively, with Shubman Gill ruled out of the series and Bavuma rested for the series opener at Ranchi’s JSCA Stadium. In Gill’s absence, Yashasvi Jaiswal will be opening along with Rohit Sharma.
India’s losing streak in tosses continued on Sunday despite a change of leader on both sides, with South Africa winning the toss and opting to field in the first of three ODIs in Ranchi. India and South Africa are being led by KL Rahul and Aiden Markram respectively at the JSCA Stadium, where the Men in Blue play their first one-dayer since they defeated New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy final in Dubai on 9 March.
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India vs South Africa, 1st ODI in Ranchi
Sunday’s showdown in MS Dhoni’s hometown also marks the first appearance of batting stalwarts and former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on home soil since they retired from Test cricket in May.
Both Rohit and Kohli, who have retired from all international formats except ODIs, had returned to international cricket in October during the tour of Australia in which the ‘Hitman’ had finished as the leading run-scorer and the Player of the Series in the 50-over leg.
Rahul has been named India captain for the ODI series with Shubman Gill getting ruled out due to a neck injury that he had suffered during the first Test in Kolkata. The Proteas, meanwhile, have rested Temba Bavuma – who normally captains in the ODIs in addition to Tests – along with senior left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, opting for just one frontline spin option in their XI.
The Men in Blue, meanwhile, opted for three quicks and as many spin options. Rahul added that Yashasvi Jaiswal, who hasn’t been able to seal his place in the ODI side, will be opening along with Rohit in Gill’s absence.
India vs South Africa, 1st ODI in Ranchi, 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
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