Ruturaj Gaikwad OUT, 2 Players IN! India's Likely Playing XI For 2nd ODI Against South Africa

Gaikwad batted at No. 4 for India in the series opener but was only able to score 8 runs from 14 balls.
The second ODI of the ongoing three-match series between India and South Africa will be played in Raipur. In the match scheduled to take place at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium on Wednesday, December 3, the Indian team management could make a couple of changes to their playing XI. In place of Ruturaj Gaikwad, who came out to bat at No. 4 in the series opener played at JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Sunday (November 30), Tilak Varma or Rishabh Pant could come in the playing XI. Tilak and Pant usually bat in the middle order, whereas Gaikwad is a top-order batter. In the series opener, Gaikwad’s selection for the No. 4 batter’s role raised a few eyebrows, and the Maharashtra-based cricketer also failed to make an impact as a No. 4 batter.
In addition to Gaikwad, the Indian team management could also consider leaving Washington Sundar out of the XI. Sundar came out to bat at No. 5 for the hosts in the first match but was only able to score 13 runs from 19 balls. With the ball as well, he was only used for four overs. In his place, India could either include a specialist batter or bring in all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Reddy played a couple of ODIs for India in the away series against Australia in October 2025 and did a decent job.
India already have two spin bowling options in the form of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
Yashasvi Jaiswal opened the innings for India in the first match and got off to a good start as well, but he failed to convert it into a big knock. The left-handed batter would like to make the most of the opportunity in the second ODI.
Virat Kohli scored his 52nd ODI century in Ranchi, whereas Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul also scored half-centuries for the Indian team. The trio will be keen to repeat the same show in Raipur as well and help India seal the series.