The India national cricket team has once again lost the toss, with South Africa inviting the hosts to bat first in the opening match of the three-match ODI series on Sunday (November 30) at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. However, it was the inclusion of Ruturaj Gaikwad that attracted more attention.
KL Rahul is leading the Men in Blue in the three-match ODI series against South Africa after Shubman Gill was ruled out with a neck injury, while vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is also recovering from his injury. After losing the toss, Rahul said that he too would have chosen to bowl first.
India lost the toss again in the first ODI due to South Africa choosing to bowl.
India’s stand-in captain said the team’s preparation has been solid and the players, especially the returning Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, have brought new energy. The focus in the camp is on enjoying the game and making the most of every opportunity we get in the ODI setup.
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“We have to use every opportunity we get in the ODI team; this is a great opportunity to challenge our skills against a very good team,” KL Rahul said during the toss in Ranchi.
Meanwhile, India went with three spinners – Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav along with three fast bowlers – Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna for the first ODI against the Proteas at the JSCA International Stadium Complex.
Ruturaj Gaikwad will play at number 4 in Ranchi ODI
Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma has returned to his opening position and Yashasvi Jaiswal will share the responsibility with him at the top. Virat Kohli also retained his third position, but the Indian think tank surprised everyone by placing the returning Ruturaj Gaikwad at number four.
Gaikwad last played an ODI against the same opponents-South Africa in 2023, while his last appearance in the national jersey was against Zimbabwe during the T20I series last year. Well, the right-handed batsman has been in great form and it has worked in his favour.
Considering his excellent form in domestic cricket, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been preferred over Rishabh Pant in the middle order for the first ODI in Ranchi. Pant was overlooked for the opening match of the ODI series, as Rahul will also perform wicketkeeping duties and bat at No. 6.
Ruturaj Gaikwad batted only twice at number 4
After Gaikwad, Washington Sundar will come in to bat in the lineup and then Ravindra Jadeja, who is making a comeback in ODIs after being sidelined for the Australia tour.
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Notably, Gaikwad plays primarily as an opening batsman, and his most impressive performances have come from the top of the order, but he is considered the number four batsman in ODIs.
The Maharashtra batsman has played at number 4 only once for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL and has batted at this position once for India against South Africa and scored 4 runs in an ODI.
Here’s how fans reacted to Ruturaj Gaikwad finally getting his chance:
From here the roar gets louder
Get well, Rutu!#whistlepoddu #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/V6UrrfW67Z– Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) 30 November 2025
Thanks BCCI,
Thanks Gautam Gambhir,
Thanks Ajit Agarkar,
Thanks Morne Morkel,
Thanks KL Rahul,
Thanks to everyone who finally gave my friend Ruturaj Gaikwad a chance to get back into the blues.
I would be grateful for that!#ruturajgaikwad #INDvSA #ODI– Sukumaran BP (@BpSukumaran) 30 November 2025
Gautam Gambhir, I was not familiar with your game.
Ruturaj Gaikwad plays cricket today– Leo (@thedeepfineleg) 30 November 2025
Ruturaj Gaikwad in playing 11…yay..Virat, Rutu, Rohit, Jaddu, KL..Mahi’s boys forever #INDvSA Gambhir You can hate him but you can never escape his legacy
– Nature (@nature_99) 30 November 2025
Rocket king Ruturaj Gaikwad returns to international level after 2 years
And this is not a return, this is a liberation. pic.twitter.com/KZK3SXSDDW
– Criticism (@CRICitism) 30 November 2025
Giving the number 4 position to Ruturaj Gaikwad can prove to be a boon for Team India…
– Karan Gourshete (@GoursheteKran) 30 November 2025
Glad to see him in blue after a long time #rituraj Gaikwad pic.twitter.com/NS7wnVw2AF
– πππ‘π‘ππ¨π¨ β· (@iamMSDfan) 30 November 2025
Ravi Shastri in the toss.
Ruturaj Gaikwad in playing eleven
Match at MS Dhoni Land
This is cinema
Imagine the heartbeat of a CSK fan
Imagine the feeling of a person who really wanted Ruturaj to shine in blue for India @Ruutu1331 #rituraj #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/DP1u4a16v8
-Its_Me_Maxeyyy (@maxeyyy_tweets) 30 November 2025
Go Ruturaj Gaikwad #ruturajgaikwad , #INDvSA , #Ranchi , #INDvsSA
– Paritosh Kumar (@Paritosh_2016) 30 November 2025
Am I reading this right? Ruturaj Gaikwad in the playing eleven even after Jaiswal opens? I think the selectors finally saw something. #INDvsSA #ruturajgaikwad
– Spandan Mahapatra (@isspandan004) 30 November 2025
Ruturaj Gaikwad at number four
hold it mnnnnn
our yellow boy pic.twitter.com/zgvSgeY83Rβ Kunal Bishwal (@KunalBishwal07) 30 November 2025
Ruturaj Gaikwad returns to the Indian team! Let us send all our prayers to Him. This is a chance for them to cement their place#INDvSA #CSK #rituraj pic.twitter.com/rQW7hHAEwl
– Ordinary Person (@GirishCSK7) 30 November 2025
Finally Ruturaj Gaikwad got a chance to play for India. Very happy that Pratibha finally got the opportunity. pic.twitter.com/PNo0Gg86nr
β Ayush Ranjan (@AyushRaGenius17) 30 November 2025
India XI: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (captain/wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
