The picturesque city of Ranchi is buzzing with cricket fever as Team India prepares to bounce back against South Africa in the first ODI on Sunday. The recent 0-2 Test series defeat seems forgotten as fans eagerly await the return of the beloved 'Ro-Ko' pairing - Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
The Ro-Ko Homecoming
The demand for tickets in MS Dhoni's hometown has reached unprecedented levels, demonstrating the enduring star power of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The dynamic duo arrived in Ranchi a day ahead of their teammates and participated in full practice sessions at the JSCA International Stadium on Friday.
However, both veterans, along with most first-team players, skipped the optional training session on Saturday afternoon. This comes after both players had challenging starts in the Australia series last month before finding their rhythm in Sydney.
Captain's Confidence in Senior Pros
Indian captain KL Rahul expressed unwavering support for the experienced pair, emphasizing their crucial role in rebuilding team confidence after the Test series disappointment. "Their importance at any point is huge. To have senior players in the team obviously makes the dressing room feel a lot more confident," Rahul stated during the pre-match media interaction.
The skipper highlighted how their mere presence and wealth of experience provides stability to the entire squad. "Just having their presence and experience helps the players in the dressing room. We are really happy that they are here," he added, throwing his full support behind the two legends.
Emerging Talent Gets Recognition
While the focus remains on the senior players, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been putting in extensive net sessions over both days, indicating his potential inclusion at number 4 position in place of the injured Shreyas Iyer. Captain Rahul confirmed that Gaikwad is certain to get opportunities during the series.
"Rutu is a top-class player. With whatever limited opportunities he has got, he has shown what he can do," Rahul praised. "Unfortunately, in ODIs, the top five-six is quite settled and they are performing really well. So, you feel bad for the players who don't get enough opportunities."
Team Composition and Pitch Factors
The team faces selection dilemmas, particularly concerning the return of Rishabh Pant from foot injury. While Rahul remained tight-lipped about final team selection, he confirmed that if Pant makes the playing eleven, he will keep wickets with Rahul fielding.
Dew is expected to play a significant role in the day-night encounter, making the toss crucial. Teams batting first have historically had an advantage at this venue, with only one 300-plus score in the previous six ODIs here. A par score of around 280 is anticipated on what appears to be a slower surface.
For South Africa, Quinton de Kock's presence at the top strengthens their batting lineup, while Matthew Breetzke and Dewald Brevis could prove influential in the middle order. Marco Jansen aims to continue his impressive all-round form from the Test series, with Lungi Ngidi leading the pace bowling attack.
As Ranchi prepares for this high-stakes encounter, all eyes will be on how the experienced Indian batting lineup, led by Sharma and Kohli, counters the South African bowling challenge under lights.
