Rejuvenated by the presence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the Indian team finally bounced back against South Africa for the first time in the bilateral series. However, the victory at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi, India was not easy. The hosts beat the Proteas by 17 runs in the opening ODI in what turned out to be a tense and unpredictable battle. The two veterans emerged as the heroes of the match and produced brilliant knocks that helped the hosts set a tough target for the South African side.
Rohit and Virat were the center of attention in Ranchi last Sunday and the surrounding excitement will remain just as intense ahead of the second ODI in Raipur on Wednesday, December 3. Raipur, which does not host international matches often, dressed up to welcome the duo knowing that the city could witness two legends in the last few years of their careers. There is a certain occasion surrounding their presence that fans and organizers have fully embraced.
And that feeling of excitement is valid. What the senior duo performed in the opening ODI commands respect. The methods applied by Rohit and Virat in Ranchi showed once again that the duo are desperate to secure their places in the squad for the 2027 World Cup. They know very well, especially after last year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy, that the difference between boarding a flight to South Africa for this tournament and staying home can be just a few innings. This subtle reserve has forced them into a mindset where each knock feels part audition and part statement.
Because of this, the two made sure to treat each shift as if it was their last meaningful opportunity. Rohit returned to the role of accumulator, a shift that helped him produce three fifty-plus scores in his last three innings, a level of consistency fans haven’t seen from him in some time. Virat Kohli, on the other hand, seemed to have found another gear and rediscovered that almost childlike joy in batting that many believed had been suppressed by years of meticulous discipline and mechanical perfection, qualities that helped him become one of the most dominant batsmen of his era.
Things are expected to remain largely unchanged for India in the Raipur ODI. The team is unlikely to make major changes at the ranch unless they want to experiment with Tilak Varma or Rishabh Pant in the batting line-up. One of the two could drop in behind Washington Sundar, who didn’t offer much with either bat or ball in the previous game. The management may see this as the right moment to test the depth without upsetting the overall balance of the side.
South Africa is likely to make changes
In the South African camp, the scenario is quite different. The Proteas suffered their first defeat of the tour in the opening ODI and that loss can be traced to two clear phases of the match where they faltered.
The first problem arose from their team selection. They opted to play four fast bowlers and the lack of variation in the first 20 overs allowed Virat Kohli to dominate, creating the momentum that drove India to a total of 350. A more balanced attack, either with a specialist spinner or a more diverse skill set among the pacers, could have helped them restrict India to a more tolerable total.
The second turning point came early in their pursuit. South Africa struggled to handle the intensity of Harshit Rana, who bowled impeccable lengths in his opening spell and dismissed two of their overs. His sharp start created pressure that the rest of the batting line-up could not shake off.
Both of these signals point to changes in South Africa’s line-up for the next match and they are likely to make at least two adjustments. Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj, who were rested in the first match, are expected to return, likely to be vacated by Ryan Rickelton and Prenelan Subrayen. Their presence adds experience and balance that South Africa will badly need in Raipur.
IND vs SA: Match details
Match: 2nd ODI
Venue: Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, Raipur
Time: 1:30 PM IST
Date: December 3rd
IND vs SA: Raipur Pitch and Weather Report
Conditions in Raipur are expected to be pleasant as winter gradually settles over central India. Not much data is available on the pitch but early indications are that it might favor the batsmen. Only one ODI has been played at this venue so far, and that was between India and New Zealand in 2023, where New Zealand were bowled for just 108 runs. India got the total down in just over 20 overs, although this match was heavily influenced by the movement earlier in the day. The surface may behave differently this time, especially with the change of season.
IND vs SA, 3rd ODI: Live Streaming Details
India Vs Match South Africa will be broadcast on the Star Sports network. The game will be streamed live on JioHotstar.
India predicted XI
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar or Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (ca wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.
Republic of South Africa Projected XI
Kinton of Kock (wk), Aiden Markam, Bavuma Temba (c), Matthew Breetzke, Tony of Storms, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Maharaj’s Shaw, North Burger, Ottneil Baartman
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
December 3, 2025
