Virat Kohli Touches Down in Ranchi for Crucial ODI Series
Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli arrived in Ranchi on Wednesday, ready to begin preparations for the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa. The series opener is scheduled for November 30 at the JSCA International Cricket Stadium in Ranchi, marking an exciting return to international cricket for the veteran batsman.
Series Schedule and Leadership Changes
The ODI series will be led by KL Rahul as captain following the absence of regular ODI skipper Shubman Gill, who is currently undergoing medical assessment in Mumbai for a neck injury sustained during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata. The series will progress with matches in Raipur on December 3 and conclude in Vizag on December 6.
The Indian team will also miss the services of vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, who continues recovery from a spleen injury. Iyer sustained the injury while taking a catch to dismiss Alex Carey during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney.
Kohli's Recent Form and Record-Breaking Career
Kohli comes into the series with impressive recent form, having showcased his batting excellence in the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He scored an unbeaten 74 off 81 balls, while captain Rohit Sharma dominated with 121 not out off 125 deliveries, leading India to a commanding 9-wicket victory while chasing 237 runs.
The veteran batsman has established himself as one of the most formidable forces in ODI cricket history. With 14,255 runs in 305 ODIs, Kohli stands as the second-highest run-getter in the format's history and holds the record for most centuries at 51. He has achieved the remarkable distinction of being the fastest batsman to reach multiple milestones, including 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000, 12,000, 13,000, and 14,000 runs in ODI cricket.
Team Composition and Rahul's Leadership
KL Rahul brings significant experience to his leadership role, having accumulated 3,092 runs in 88 ODI matches with an impressive average of 48.31 and a strike rate of 88.41. The complete Indian squad for the series includes:
Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and Dhruv Jurel.
The series promises exciting cricket action as India looks to continue their winning momentum against the South African team. All eyes will be on Kohli as he aims to add to his already impressive record while helping secure victory for the Indian team under Rahul's captaincy.
