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Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravi Bishnoi were handed their debut ODI caps as Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and opted to field first at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. The first ODI of three-ODI series has been reduced to 40-overs per side game due to wet outfield. The first powerplay will be of eight overs and five bowlers can bowl a maximum of eight overs.
“We would like to field first. There is a bit of moisture on the wicket and we want to exploit that. We got six batters and five bowlers playing. Ruturaj is making his debut today. Two spinners and three pacers,” Dhawan said after winning the toss.
“We would have liked to bowl first as well. We have a job to do with the bat and we need to adapt accordingly after the first few overs. You gotta be able to adapt to different formats quickly and we still want to keep those T20 skills in check. Every game for us is a big opportunity. Malan is back at the top, Klaasen is back in the middle and also Shamsi is back,” Bavuma said after losing the toss.
“Yes, I am enjoying this format, ODIs are something that I have always loved playing. Feeling nice that what I wanted to do in the last two series I was able to execute. It is a lot of fun opening with him (Shikhar), he has so much experience and he guides me through the innings, how to deal with certain bowlers. I don't think there is any pressure, the World Cup is here, we have grown up playing in these conditions, but yes I have to do well,” in-form Shubman Gill said before the game.
India Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Siraj
South Africa Playing XI: Janneman Malan, Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi
