Virat Kohli during a practice session in Raipur on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu
The JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi was treated to a Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli masterclass in the first ODI against South Africa on Sunday (Novermber 30, 2025), a spectacle that carried India to a narrow 17-run win and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Now, with the action shifting to the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on Wednesday (December 3, 2025), the home side has an opportunity to seal the series.
The two former India captains turned back the clock, entertaining a packed house while firmly addressing any questions about their future. Their 136-run partnership for the second wicket — the duo’s 20th century stand in ODIs — was a vintage exhibition of control and authority that sent the South Africans on an exhausting leather hunt. The assurance with which the two operated, their rhythm almost effortless, provided India with the perfect platform to set a daunting total.
Kohli was in majestic touch, threading drives through the off-side with precision and punishing anything in his arc down the ground.
Rohit, meanwhile, carried forward the imperious form he displayed in Sydney during the recent series against Australia. He unfurled his signature pulls, tackled the spinners confidently, and kept the runs flowing, steadily tightening the grip on the visitors.
Their time in the middle, backed by immense experience and skill, felt like a timely injection of belief for a side still recovering from the drubbing in the Test series.
Equally encouraging for India was the composed leadership of stand-in captain K.L. Rahul, who made all the right calls and contributed with a mature innings. The new-ball pair of Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana struck early with disciplined lengths, rattling the Proteas’ top-order while Prasidh Krishna chipped in with the key wicket of Corbin Bosch, who briefly threatened to pull off a heist.
Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep was exceptional, finishing with a four-wicket haul that proved decisive in halting South Africa’s charge and ensuring India stayed on top.
To their credit, the visitors refused to capitulate. After a disastrous start, their middle and lower-order counterpunched. Matthew Breetzke held the innings together while Tony de Zorzi and Dewald Brevis chipped in with valuable cameos before Marco Jansen, continuing his outstanding run across formats, smashed a blistering 70 off 39 balls to give his side a fighting chance.
Regular captain Temba Bavuma will back for the must-win clash and South Africa will fancy its chances of levelling the series.
As the focus shifts to Raipur, several questions linger. Will the pitch result in another run-fest? Can India ride the momentum and seal the series? Or will South Africa hit back to force a decider? The answers will unfold under the lights, but one thing is certain — both teams will be eager to stamp their authority in what promises to be a gripping contest.
The teams (from): India: K.L. Rahul (Capt.), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Tilak Varma, Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (Capt.), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton and Prenelan Subrayen.
Match starts at 1.30 p.m.
Published – December 02, 2025 08:36 pm IST
