IND vs SA Live score 2nd ODI Updates: India (358/5 in 50 ov), Virat 102, Ruturaj 105 power India to 358
Rejuvenated by the presence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the Indian team finally hit back at South Africa for the first time in the bilateral series. Playing at Ranchi’s JSCA Stadium, India victory did not come easy though. The hosts beat the Proteas in the opening ODI by 17 runs in what turned into a nervy and unpredictable battle. The two veterans emerged as the heroes of the match, producing superlative knocks that helped the hosts set a challenging target for the South African side.
Rohit and Virat were the centre of attention in Ranchi last Sunday, and the surrounding excitement will remain just as intense ahead of the second ODI in Raipur on Wednesday, December 3. Raipur, which does not host international matches often, has dressed up to welcome the duo, aware that the city might be witnessing two legends in the final couple of years of their careers. There is a sense of occasion around their presence that the fans and the organisers have embraced fully.
And that sense of excitement is valid. What the senior duo did in the opening ODI commands that respect. The methods that Rohit and Virat applied in Ranchi again showed that the duo are desperate to secure their spots on the teamsheet for the 2027 World Cup. They know very well, especially after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, that the difference between boarding a flight to South Africa for that tournament and being left at home could come down to just a couple of innings. That fine margin has forced them into a mindset where every knock feels like part audition and part statement.
Because of that, both have ensured they treat every innings as if it were their last meaningful opportunity. Rohit has returned to the role of an accumulator, a shift that has helped him produce three fifty-plus scores in his last three innings, a level of consistency that fans had not witnessed from him in quite some time. On the other hand, Virat Kohli appeared to find an extra gear, rediscovering that almost childish joy in batting that many believed had been subdued by years of meticulous discipline and mechanical perfection, the very attributes that helped him become one of the most dominant batters of his era.
Things are expected to remain largely unchanged for India in the Raipur ODI. The team is unlikely to make major alterations from the Ranchi outing unless they want to experiment with Tilak Varma or Rishabh Pant in the batting line-up. One of those two could slot in for Washington Sundar, who did not offer much with either bat or ball in the previous game. The management may see this as the right moment to test depth without disturbing the overall balance of the side.
