The left-handed opening batter of the Indian cricket team, Yashasvi Jaiswal, wasn’t getting chances in the 50-over format, with Shubman Gill getting slotted at the top with the former captain, Rohit Sharma. But with Gill being ruled out of the clash, Jaiswal featured in the opening ODI of the three-match series against South Africa.

Jaiswal was in decent touch during the two-match Test series against the Proteas when he registered a fine half-century during the second game at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Despite his superb record in List-A cricket, Jaiswal didn’t get many chances with the bat in the ODIs, and the Ranchi game was a great chance for him to turn the tables.

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Jaiswal smashed a boundary on the very first ball of the game, on the top of the bounce, and cut it square past point. He drilled the fourth ball of the second over past the slip region for the same result. But the most pleasing shot for the southpaw was the six he clubbed over the deep backward square leg against Marco Jansen.

Watch: Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed Marco Jansen for massive six in IND vs SA ODI in Ranchi

The innings didn’t go as Jaiswal planned, as he was dismissed by Nandre Burger on the first ball of the fourth over for 18 runs in 16 balls with the help of two boundaries and one six. The left-handed batter went forward on his stance as the ball got straightened to find the edge of the blade into the hands of the wicket-keeper.

A promising start ✨
- 2 fours
- 1 six
But it ended too soon at 18(16) 😔💔

All Fours, Sixes & Wicket 👇 pic.twitter.com/WdpzZeLOWF

— Yashasvi Jaiswal Fᴬᴺ Cᴸᵁᴮ (@ybj_fc) November 30, 2025

Earlier in the game, South Africa’s stand-in captain, Aiden Markram, won the toss and decided to chase in the clash, expecting the ball to come on to the bat more sweetly in the second innings. The Proteas were without their captain, Temba Bavuma, and premier spinner, Keshav Maharaj.

India decided to bring back Ruturaj Gaikwad at number four in the eleven as Washington Sundar got a place at five with stand-in captain for the series, KL Rahul, being slotted at number six in the playing eleven.