The Test series loss against South Africa still stings the Indian cricket team. The 3-match ODI series can be their moment of redemption. After back-to-back defeats in the Tests, a win in the first One Day International match in Ranchi (IND vs SA 1st ODI) will boost up the home team's confidence. 

India is in Ranchi without their regular skipper, Shubman Gill, and vice-captain, Shreyas Iyer; both are out of action due to injury reasons. KL Rahul is the stand-in captain for the match. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's inclusion in the team can provide the Men in Blue an extra edge over the in-form South Africa cricket team. In ODI, India has faced South Africa so far in 94 matches. where India got to win in 40 games, and South Africa was victorious on 51 occasions; in the overall stats, South Africa's track record is better than the Indian cricket team's.

The last time these two teams were up against each other in this format was in 2023. India won the three-match ODI series by 2-1. In the recent past, India's performance in the limited overs series has been brilliant. The South African cricket team will have to work hard to maintain their winning momentum in the multi-format tour. 

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Toss Update:

South Africa ODI team skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and decided to bowl first at the JSCA International Stadium Complex. From the pitch side, former cricketer, now a cricket expert, Shaun Pollock said that the pitch is looking really good. There are some cracks on the deck, but there is a thin layer of grass as well. 

"We will bowl first. Different personnel, the dressing room is at a good place with a lot of energy and fun. It’s an important series, the end role the 2027 WC, still a bit of time, but we’re up against one of the best teams in the world. Just one spinner in Subrayen, I will bowl a bit – Temba and Maharaj have been rested, four seamers for us today", Markram said after the toss. 

On the other side, KL Rahul stated, "The preparation has been good, the energy is there with a lot of players coming back, we want to enjoy ourselves in the middle. That’s what the chat has been, we need to use every opportunity we get in the ODI team, this is a great chance to challenge our skills against a very good team. "

Playing XI:

South Africa: Aiden Markram (C), Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock (WK), Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Nandre Burger, and Ottneil Baartman.

India: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (C/WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna.