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 made them think where every 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 from 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. Management may see this as the right moment to test the depth without upsetting the overall balance of the side.
