Team India arrives in Raipur for 2nd ODI after 17-run win against South Africa in Ranchi - See pics
The KL Rahul-led Indian team arrived in Raipur for the 2nd ODI against South Africa after a 17-run victory in the series opener in Ranchi.
The Indian cricket team arrived in Raipur on Monday after beating South Africa by 17 runs in the first ODI of the three-match series at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi on Sunday, November 29. The Indian players received a grand ovation at the Ranchi airport as they departed for neighbouring Raipur on Monday.
Virat Kohli slammed a magnificent ton in front of a packed crowd in Ranchi to help India edge South Africa in a close-fought encounter in the first ODI in Ranchi. Kohli scored 135 off 120 balls to notch up his 52nd ODI ton and help India post an imposing total of 349 runs, batting first.
Harshit Rana got India off to a flying start with the ball, but South Africa's middle order staged a fight back to take the game to the wire as the crowd in Ranchi witnessed a thriller. Nonetheless, India managed to hold their nerves to secure a thrilling win in the end and go 1-0 up in the series.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared pictures on social media as the Indian team arrived in Raipur for the second ODI, which is set to be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium on December 03.
The victory was a huge sigh of relief for India as they bounced back to winning ways after their crushing 2-0 whitewash in the recently concluded Test series against South Africa. India lost the first Test in Kolkata by 30 runs, before suffering a dismal 408-run defeat in the 2nd Test in Guwahati to suffer their second Test series whitewash at home under head coach Gautam Gambhir.
India aim to wrap up series in Raipur
After their 17-run win in the first ODI in Ranchi, India will be looking to take an unassailable 2-0 lead with a second consecutive win in the 2nd ODI in Raipur to wrap up the three-match series. In the absence of regular skipper Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, the team management handed chances to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturwak Gaikwad in the batting line-up and will be hoping for the duo to step up.
The Indian team management snubbed Rishabh Pant to bat Gaikwad at no.4 after his stellar run for India A. However, Gaikwad was dismissed cheaply on 8 off 14 balls in the first ODI. It remains to be seen if the team management will continue to back the right-hander or wil they bring back Pant at 4, with stand-in skipper Rahul relenquishing the wicket-keeping duties in the 2nd ODI.