India Aim to Seal Momentum as Rohit–Kohli Duo Shine Ahead of Raipur Clash

Sports News: The return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has given new life to the Indian team. India made its first comeback in the series by defeating South Africa by 17 runs in the first ODI played at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi. This victory was not easy, but the brilliant innings of both the legendary batsmen provided such a foundation that the balance of the match remained thrilling till the end.

What are the preparations before the match?

Rohit and Virat were the center of discussion in Ranchi last Sunday. Now the excitement level is equally high ahead of the second ODI to be held in Raipur on Wednesday (3 December). There are fewer international matches in Raipur; hence, the city is fully decorated. The fans know that they may have been watching these two greats play for the last few years, so the atmosphere has become special.

What did Rohit-Virat do in the first ODI?

In the first match, both of them showed the same qualities that the team needed. By scoring 50 in the third consecutive innings, Rohit proved that he is again playing the role of 'anchor.' Virat Kohli, on the other hand, showed that old confidence in his shots, which had been hidden behind a methodical technical game in the last few years. Both of them know that their every inning matters for the 2027 World Cup. Perhaps because of this, extra attention and a kind of statement are seen in his every innings.

What changes can India make in the Raipur ODI?

There is little possibility of major changes in Team India. The biggest question is who among Tilak Verma and Rishabh Pant can get the chance in place of Washington Sundar. Sundar's contribution in the last match was limited, so there is scope for experimentation here.

• Why is South Africa forced to change?
• The Proteas lost the first ODI for two reasons:

Wrong team combination:

They played four fast bowlers, due to which the bowling remained the same in the first 20 overs and Kohli easily established the rhythm.

Poor start to the chase:

Harshit Rana took two wickets while hitting excellent line-length with the new ball, due to which the entire African batting came under pressure and could not recover. Now it is expected that Captain Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj will return to the team. Ryan Rickelton and Prenellan Subrayan may be out. The return of these two experienced players can give balance to the team.

Match details

• Match: India vs South Africa, 2nd ODI
• Stadium: Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
• Time: 1:30 pm
• Day: 3 December
• Raipur pitch and weather

Winter has started in central India, so the weather will be pleasant. Only one ODI has been played here, in which New Zealand was all out for 108. However, that match was different because of the swing and early moisture. This time the pitch may be better for the batsmen.

Live streaming

The match will be telecast on the Star Sports Network, and a live stream will be available on JioHotstar.

India's probable playing XI

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar/Tilak Verma, KL Rahul (captain/wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna

Probable playing XI of South Africa

Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), Mathieu Bretzke, Tony De Zorzi, Dewald Brewis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Otniel Baartman.