India vs South Africa 1st ODI: Today is the first ODI between India and South Africa, captain Shikhar Dhawan will make a splash

Having recently claimed the T20I series 2-1 over South Africa on home turf, the Indian cricket team is now pivoting its attention to an upcoming three-match one-day international battle against the same visiting side.

India vs. South Africa, 1st ODI: Fresh off their success in the shortest format, the hosts are getting set for the 50-over games. The inaugural match is set for today, October 6, hosted at Lucknow’s International Stadium, starting at 1:30 PM IST.

Regular captain Rohit Sharma is taking a breather during this leg of the tour, leaving Shikhar Dhawan to take the helm. Rohit will return for the T20 World Cup, a tournament for which Dhawan was not selected. Other key figures, including Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant, are also being rested throughout this ODI series. In the absence of these senior players, Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as vice-captain. Leading the side without high-profile stars like Rohit and Kohli gives Dhawan a major platform to showcase his managerial abilities.

Giving the primary players a break has paved the way for fresh talent to gain exposure on the global stage. Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad re-enter the setup, while impressive domestic names such as Rajat Patidar, Rahul Tripathi, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Mukesh Kumar have received their maiden international selections. Sanju Samson is also included in the line-up.

Chahar and Iyer heading to Australia post-series

Now grounded in Lucknow, the Indian squad has been training rigorously ahead of the first match. Fast bowler Deepak Chahar and middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer are part of the roster, both being designated as backup options for the T20 World Cup. Iyer is fulfilling the role of vice-captain. Following the end of these three ODIs, the duo will depart for Australia.