India will look to address several lingering selection puzzles when they take on South Africa on Sunday in the first ODI of the three-match series, where Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the set-up for a short audition that could well shape their 2027 World Cup fate.
Both Rohit and Kohli now compete in just one international format, and with India scheduled to play only six ODIs in the next two months, the stakes have rarely been higher for two of Indian cricket’s modern-day greats.
For India, this ODI series comes in the shadow of the T20 World Cup at home next year, a tournament that will invariably dictate selection priorities.
Gambhir under scrutiny
Head coach Gautam Gambhir, too, enters this series under scrutiny though his job is not under threat since his contract runs till the 2027 World Cup.
His tactical calls and team selections were questioned after the Test setback — his second major failure since taking charge. This ODI series is an important opportunity for Gambhir to stabilise the narrative and showcase clarity in India’s white-ball direction.
SA without Rabada, Nortje
South Africa will walk into the series with confidence after their Test series triumph, keen to extend the momentum in a format where their transition group has often blown hot and cold. The visitors, despite missing pace spearheads Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, remain buoyant that the confidence gained in red-ball cricket can translate into white-ball sharpness in conditions that will again test their adaptability.
With both Kohli and Rohit returning, stand-in ODI skipper KL Rahul on Saturday said their influence was crucial in a dressing room looking to regain momentum after the Test series reversal. “Their importance at any point is huge. To have senior players in the team obviously makes the dressing room feel a lot more confident. Having their presence and experience helps a lot of players in the dressing room and helps the team. So, we are really happy that they are here.
“Winning is the most important thing. So, that is what we are trying to focus on — trying to forget what happened a week ago and focus on the game tomorrow and see how we can put in a collective performance,” he said.
Rahul conceded that his side’s repeated struggles against spin in Tests, especially on home tracks, remain a concern, but he didn’t have a “definitive answer” to the decline of a traditional Indian strength.
12
No. of ODIs KL Rahul has led India in, winning eight and losing four
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