Ranchi, November 30, 2025 - Eight years after a net session in Johannesburg sparked a rivalry, Virat Kohli and Marco Jansen are set to renew acquaintances on the cricket field as India and South Africa clash in the first ODI of a three-match series at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi.
India, led by stand-in captain KL Rahul in the absence of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, will be aiming to bounce back after a disappointing 0-2 defeat in the Test series. South Africa, on the other hand, will be high on confidence following their Test series win.
The focus will be on how the Indian team, with a slightly depleted look, regroups in the ODI format. All eyes will be on the team combinations, as India will be without several specialists, including regular captain Shubman Gill, vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, and fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. KL Rahul has been appointed stand-in captain for the series, with the selectors and team management resisting the temptation to revert to Rohit Sharma.
The match also marks a significant milestone for the legendary duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are set to surpass Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid's record of 391 international appearances together.
The series presents an opportunity for players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is expected to open with Rohit Sharma, and potentially Ruturaj Gaikwad or Rishabh Pant, to solidify their places in the ODI squad. Gaikwad has been in impressive form for India A, scoring a century and a fifty in the recent unofficial ODIs against South Africa.
While Kohli has a strong record against South Africa, with 1,504 runs in 31 ODIs at an average of 65.39, he will be up against a menacing South African pace attack, including Marco Jansen. In the past, Kohli has enjoyed batting at the JSCA Stadium, scoring 384 runs in five matches at an average of 192.00.
The pitch in Ranchi has historically offered assistance to both pacers and spinners. In the six ODIs played at the venue, pacers have taken 39 wickets, while spinners have accounted for 35.
South Africa will be without Kagiso Rabada but will rely on Quinton de Kock, Marco Jansen, and Dewald Brevis to challenge the hosts. De Kock, in particular, has a good record against India and is coming off a successful comeback to ODI cricket, including a century in Faisalabad earlier this month. Temba Bavuma has also returned as the ODI captain of South Africa.
India and South Africa have a rich history in ODI cricket, having faced each other 94 times. South Africa holds the edge with 51 wins, while India has won 40.
As the two teams prepare to face off, the match promises to be a thrilling encounter with both India and South Africa eager to gain an early advantage in the series.
