South Africa won the toss and chose to field in the opening ODI against India on Sunday, extending India’s unusual streak to 19 consecutive lost tosses.
With regular captain Shubman Gill sidelined by injury, Lokesh Rahul is leading India. Senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are also part of the playing XI.
South Africa’s stand-in captain Aiden Markram said the likelihood of evening dew influenced his decision to field first. The visitors have rested skipper Temba Bavuma and spinner Keshav Maharaj after their 2–0 Test series win over India. They selected a pace-heavy attack with four seamers, with Prenelan Subrayen as the lone specialist spinner.
Rahul said he would also have opted to bowl first, noting significant dew during India’s practice sessions.
India has picked three spinners — Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav — supported by pacers Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana.
Line-ups
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, Lokesh Rahul (captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman