IND vs SA ODIs 2025-26: A complete look at India’s squad, key strengths, concerns, and the most likely starting XI.
The 15-member ODI squad for the 2025-26 home series against South Africa was announced on November 23. With the first look at it, the squad tries to be a blend of continuity, cautious workload management, and a push towards youth.
KL Rahul has stepped in as captain Shubman Gill’s absence who got injured during the first Test against South Africa. The Men in Blue will host the Proteas in the three-match ODI series starting from November 30.
Full India squad and key omissions
The announced ODI squad for the three-match South Africa series is: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (captain, wicketkeeper), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel. I
Gill misses the series due to a neck injury suffered during the Test leg, forcing a change in India’s leadership after he had only recently been elevated as ODI captain. Shreyas Iyer remains unavailable as he recovers from a serious spleen injury, while Jasprit Bumrah is rested as part of workload management; Axar Patel too is not part of this group after featuring in the Test series.
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KL Rahul’s captaincy and core batting group
KL Rahul’s appointment as stand-in captain is both conservative and logical as he has led India in ODIs before and has recently settled into the middle order as a stabilising presence and designated finisher.
With Rishabh Pant returning after his long layoff and Jurel also in the group, Rahul’s wicketkeeping workload can be managed, allowing him to focus primarily on leadership and batting at a key position.
Starting 3: Rohit, Jaiswal, Kohli
Given the composition of the squad and the home conditions, India are likely to open with Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the ODIs. Jaiswal has been groomed across formats at the top of the order and offers left-right combination as well as high-intent powerplay batting to complement Rohit’s more calculated aggression.
Virat Kohli at number three will be a given. This top three also allows the management to keep Ruturaj Gaikwad as a floating option, primarily an opening reserve, but someone who can play in the middle order if needed, as he does for Maharashtra in first-class cricket.
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Middle-order puzzle
Number four is where the real debate begins, especially with Shreyas Iyer missing and the selectors keen to reward Tilak Varma’s progress. Tilak’s game profile, left-handed, strong against spin, capable of shifting gears without losing shape makes him an ideal candidate to occupy that slot and soak up high-pressure overs through the middle.
Rishabh Pant, back in ODIs, appears more naturally suited to number five, where he can counter-attack after a stable platform; can manipulate fields against spin and still have enough time to build a long innings. Dhruv Jurel, in contrast, looks like a backup option for this series, covering both wicketkeeping and lower middle-order roles, but unlikely to start unless there is rotation or injury.
All-rounders and lower middle order
KL Rahul at number five or six provides the tactical glue: he can rebuild the innings if early wickets tumble, but he can also act as a finisher alongside the all-rounders. A realistic structure, especially if Pant is used at five, Rahul at six, with two of Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar at seven and eight depending on the pitch and opposition balance.
Jadeja’s return is a major boost, bringing a proven ODI package of tight left-arm spin, electric fielding and lower-order hitting that India missed in the previous Australia series. Washington Sundar offers similar three-dimensional utility from the other side, off-spin that matches up well to South Africa’s left-handers and a developing batting game that can slot anywhere from seven to eight.
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Bowling unit and Harshit Rana’s rise
Kuldeep Yadav is locked in as India’s primary wrist-spinner at number ten, continuing his role as the strike bowler in the middle overs where he has been among India’s most potent ODI weapons in recent years. With Jadeja and Washington to support, India can effectively deploy three frontline spinners without compromising batting depth.
The seam attack, in Bumrah’s absence, is built around Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana, with two of the three likely to start. Arshdeep’s left-arm angle and new-ball swing makes him the default leader of the attack, while the choice between Prasidh and Rana at number nine will hinge on whether India prefer Prasidh’s hit-the-deck, hard lengths or Rana’s skiddier, wicket-hunting style and marginally better batting ability down the order.
Probable India Playing XI vs South Africa
Balancing form, roles and the specific selections, a strong and coherent probable XI for the first ODI could be:
- Rohit Sharma
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Virat Kohli
- Tilak Varma
- Rishabh Pant
- KL Rahul
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Washington Sundar
- Prasidh Krishna / Harshit Rana
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
🚨 NEWS 🚨#TeamIndia's squad for @IDFCFIRSTBank ODI series against South Africa announced.
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 23, 2025
More details ▶️https://t.co/0ETGclxAdL#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/3cXnesNiQ5
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