After suffering a humiliating defeat in the Test series, Team India is ready for a fresh beginning as they take on South Africa in the first ODI match at Ranchi's JSCA International Stadium Complex on November 30. The highly anticipated match marks the return of veteran stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the ODI squad after nearly ten months, adding significant firepower to the Indian lineup.
Team Changes and Key Absences
The Indian team will feature several changes from their recent series against Australia. Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel have been rested for the ODI series, while Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill are recovering from injuries and will not be available. The absence of Gill potentially opens the door for young Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the batting alongside Rohit Sharma.
India's pace attack will also miss Jasprit Bumrah, who has been given rest. Meanwhile, South Africa welcomes back some of their first-choice players as they look to bounce back from their recent ODI loss against Pakistan.
Match Details and Viewing Information
The first ODI begins at 1:30 PM IST on November 30 at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. Cricket fans across India can watch the match live on Star Sports channels, while DD Sports will broadcast the game for FREE. For those preferring digital platforms, live streaming will be available on the JioStar app and website.
Historical Context and Predicted Lineups
India and South Africa have a rich ODI history, having played 94 matches against each other. While South Africa holds the overall advantage with 51 wins against India's 40, the Men in Blue have dominated on home soil, leading the head-to-head record 18-14 in India.
India's predicted playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Reddy, KL Rahul (C), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh
South Africa's predicted playing XI: Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock (WK), Temba Bavuma (C), Matthew Breetzke, Rubin Hermann, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi
The return of experienced campaigners Rohit and Kohli provides a significant boost to the Indian team as they aim to start the three-match ODI series on a positive note. With both teams featuring a mix of experienced players and fresh talent, cricket enthusiasts can expect an exciting contest between these two cricketing giants.
