- By Namrata Vijay
- Sun, 30 Nov 2025 02:20 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
IND vs SA: South Africa's regular ODI skipper Temba Bavuma isn't part of their playing XI for the series opener against India. Aiden Markram is leading the team in his absence. At the time of the toss, Markram revealed that Bavuma had been given some rest.
“Just one spinner in Subrayen, I will bowl a bit – Temba (Bavuma) and (Keshav) Maharaj have been rested. Four seamers for us today," Markram said at the time of the toss.
Markram will come into bat at the No.3 position in Bavuma's absence in Ranchi, as Ryan Rickleton and Quinton de Kock will be playing as openers.
Post winning the toss, Markram chose to bowl first in the first ODI. The visitors have 4 pacers on their side for this series: Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Nandre Burger, and Ottneil Baartman, and Prenelan Subrayen is the only spinner in their playing XI.
At the same time, the hosts have included three fast bowlers, two spin all-rounders, and one spinner in their playing XI.
KL Rahul will be leading the team from the front in Gill's absence. Yashasvi Jaiswal opened the innings along with Rohit Sharma, whereas Ruturaj Gaikwad will come in to bat at the No.4 position.
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Gaikwad, last played in this format in December 2023, has pipped Tilak Varma and Rishabh Pant as No.4 batter. Gaikwad hasn't played at this position till now in international cricket, but has done so in domestic cricket, and it remains to be seen how he plays at this new position for the host.
Playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (C & WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
South Africa: Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock (WK), Aiden Markram (C), Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman.