The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the official 15-member Indian ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against South Africa. The series begins on November 30, 2025, and will be an important step in India’s preparation for future ICC tournaments.
With KL Rahul appointed as captain, and senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli included, the squad looks strong, balanced, and full of exciting young talent.
Complete India ODI Squad for South Africa Series 2025
The team features a mix of experienced stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, along with exciting young talents such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma. KL Rahul has been named captain in the absence of Shubman Gill, who is out due to injury. Below is the complete squad list.
| Player Name | Role | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | Batter | Senior top-order batter |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Opening Batter | Left-handed opener |
| Virat Kohli | Batter | Experienced middle-order batter |
| Tilak Varma | Middle-order Batter | Young left-hander |
| KL Rahul | Captain & Wicketkeeper | Stand-in ODI captain |
| Rishabh Pant | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Returning to ODI squad |
| Washington Sundar | All-rounder | Off-spin + lower-order batting |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder | Left-arm spin + key all-rounder |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Spinner | Lead wrist-spinner |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-rounder | Pace-bowling all-rounder |
| Harshit Rana | Fast Bowler | Young right-arm pacer |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | Batter | Backup opener |
| Prasidh Krishna | Fast Bowler | Bounce & pace specialist |
| Arshdeep Singh | Fast Bowler | Left-arm swing bowler |
| Dhruv Jurel | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Backup wicketkeeper |
Key Changes and Selections
Leadership Change
KL Rahul has been appointed as India’s captain for this series after regular skipper Shubman Gill was ruled out due to a neck injury sustained during the first Test in Kolkata. This is an important responsibility for Rahul, who has previously led India in limited-overs cricket.
Major Inclusions
Rishabh Pant Returns: Rishabh Pant is back in the ODI setup, having last played the format in August 2024. His return adds depth to India’s batting lineup and provides another explosive wicketkeeper option.
Ravindra Jadeja’s Comeback: Ravindra Jadeja, who was dropped for the Australia ODI series due to pace-friendly conditions, has made his way back to the team. His all-round skills will be crucial against South Africa.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Recalled: Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was in sparkling form for India A during the one-dayers against South Africa A, is the reserve opener. Gaikwad made scores of 117, 68 not out, and 25 during India A’s series win.
Tilak Varma Gets Opportunity: With Shreyas Iyer unavailable due to injury, a middle-order spot opened up for Tilak Varma, who featured in a recent one-day series against South Africa A in Rajkot.
Notable Absences
Jasprit Bumrah Rested: Jasprit Bumrah was rested having featured in all four home Tests this season, the T20 Asia Cup, as well as the ODIs in Australia over the past two months. This is part of workload management for India’s premier fast bowler.
Shubman Gill Injured: Regular ODI captain Shubman Gill misses the series due to his neck injury from the Kolkata Test.
Shreyas Iyer Out: Shreyas Iyer wasn’t in the squad as he continues to recover from a lacerated spleen.
Axar Patel Dropped: With Ravindra Jadeja returning, Axar Patel has been left out of the squad.
Mohammed Siraj Rested: Mohammed Siraj has been rested, presumably to manage his workloads after he featured in each of the four home Tests.
Match Schedule and Venues
The three-match ODI series will be played across the following venues:
| Match | Date | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | November 30, 2025 | JSCA Stadium, Ranchi | 1:30 PM |
| 2nd ODI | December 3, 2025 | Raipur | 1:30 PM |
| 3rd ODI | December 6, 2025 | Visakhapatnam | 1:30 PM |
Squad Analysis
Batting Department
India has selected a powerful batting lineup featuring established superstars and young talent. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli providing experience, and Yashasvi Jaiswal bringing fresh energy at the top, the team has multiple scoring options. The middle order features the explosive duo of Rishabh Pant and Tilak Varma, who can change the game quickly.
Bowling Attack
The pace attack consists of Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana, offering a mix of experience and youth. Kuldeep Yadav will lead the spin department alongside the all-round capabilities of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. This combination gives captain KL Rahul plenty of options for different match situations.
All-rounders Strength
India’s squad includes quality all-rounders in Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. These players provide balance to the team and give flexibility in team selection based on pitch conditions.
What This Series Means for India
This ODI series is important preparation for India as they continue building towards future tournaments. The matches will test the team’s depth and give opportunities to players who have performed well in domestic cricket and India A matches.
With a new captain and several fresh faces in the squad, this series also represents an opportunity for India to try different combinations and assess player form ahead of major international commitments.
KL Rahul’s Captaincy Record
KL Rahul has previously served as stand-in captain in ODIs and boasts a solid track record, winning eight of the 12 matches he has led. Under his captaincy, India has secured series victories against Australia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
How to Watch
Cricket fans can watch all three ODI matches live on television and digital streaming platforms. The series promises exciting cricket as both teams feature strong squads with world-class players.
