On Sunday, 23 November, the Indian squad was announced, and KL Rahul was named as the stand-in captain for the ODI series against South Africa. Shubman Gill is injured, and Shreyas Iyer is still recovering, so Rahul will lead the side. He last captained India in the 2023 ODI series win against South Africa.
The announcement of India’s ODI squad for the South Africa series immediately triggered a wave of online reactions across social platforms.
Saif Uddin reacted to the squad by saying, “🏏 Dream squad for SA series! KL’s leadership, Kohli-Rohit’s experience, and young guns like Jaiswal – India’s ODI mix looks explosive. Youth meets wisdom! 💥🔥”
The account Indian Sports Fans highlighted the major updates, saying, “Shubman Gill ruled out. Shreyas Iyer ruled out. KL Rahul as captain. Ruturaj & Jaiswal return. Tilak & Pant in the squad. Jadeja is back. No Sanju Samson. Bumrah & Siraj rested.”
A humorous reaction came from cricket funny moments, which posted, “ODI series squad announce team India. No Bumrah ❌ No siraj ❌ No Shami ❌ Only believe harshit Rana✔😅”
NewsFirst Prime summarized the announcement by stating, “India unveils strong 15-member squad for South Africa ODI series; KL Rahul named captain.”
The squad includes Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul as captain and wicketkeeper, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and Dhruv Jurel.
India Squad for ODI vs SA: Axar Patel Left Out, Internet Reacts with Memes and Questions
Axar Patel has not been included in the India squad for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa. His omission surprised many fans, and it led to jokes, memes, and questions on social media. Fans asked why Axar was left out so soon after the Australia series. Some users said that the decision was shocking, while others used sarcasm to show their confusion.
One fan joked that Axar was dropped because he did not win the Test in Kolkata. Another comment said that with Jadeja and Axar, it always feels like “one ODI series for you, one for him.”
One user wrote, “Axar Patel getting dropped from the ODI setup is so shocking.” A few also pointed out that media reports had listed Axar as a possible captain only a day earlier, but he was missing from the team the next day.
The reason for his omission is not confirmed, and it is unclear whether he has been rested or dropped. The ODI matches will be played on November 30 in Ranchi, December 3 in Raipur, and December 6 in Visakhapatnam.
When is the India vs South Africa ODI?
India’s next ODI assignment against South Africa begins on November 30, 2025, when the first match takes place in Ranchi at the JSCA International Stadium Complex. The game starts at 1:30 PM IST.
The series then moves to Raipur on December 3, 2025, at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, again starting at 1:30 PM IST.
The final ODI will be played on December 6, 2025, in Visakhapatnam at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, with the same 1:30 PM IST start time.
FAQs
Q. Who is India’s captain for the ODI series against South Africa?
A. KL Rahul is the stand-in captain because Shubman Gill is injured and Shreyas Iyer is still recovering.
Q. Are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli included in the Indian squad?
A. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are returning to play international cricket in India for the first time since February.
Q. Why did fans react humorously to the squad announcement?
A. Fans joked about the absence of big bowlers like Bumrah and Siraj, with one saying, “No Bumrah ❌ No Siraj ❌ Only Harshit Rana ✔😅.”
Q. When will the India vs South Africa ODIs be played?
A. The India vs South Africa matches are on November 30 in Ranchi, December 3 in Raipur, and December 6 in Visakhapatnam, all starting at 1:30 PM IST.
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