Sunil Gavaskar feels that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli live off the energy from the crowd when they're playing in India.
Gavaskar said that the pressure for both men is high while playing in India and they take it upon themselves to not
"When you're playing in India, the burden of expectations is much, much heavier than when you're playing overseas,
because of the vast numbers of people who come, and they all want you to do. Well, and we all know it in sports, even
the best and the greatest cannot succeed every time. You've seen a Federer, you know, not winning every time, a Djokovic
or a Nadal, I'm talking about, you know, uh tennis, you know, Tiger Woods, when he was in his form, didn't win every
single tournament. But the expectations are high, and I think, therefore, that to live up to those expectations is very
difficult. But both these champions have actually got used to it, you could say used to it. They feed off this energy.
They feed off this energy of the crowd that wants them to do well. So yes, at the start, they might maybe, you know,
play and miss, they might get hit on the pads, but that only increases their determination not to let this vast crowd
down. And of course, the millions watching on television," said Gavaskar.
The scenario is quite different in the South African camp. The Proteas suffered their first defeat of the tour in the
opening ODI, and that loss can be traced to two clear phases of the match where they faltered.
The first issue stemmed from their team selection. They opted to play four fast bowlers, and the lack of variation in
the first 20 overs allowed Virat Kohli to dominate, creating momentum that propelled India to a total of 350. A more
balanced attack, with either a specialist spinner or a more diverse set of skill-sets among the pacers, might have
helped them restrict India to a more manageable total.
The second turning point arrived early in their chase. South Africa struggled to handle the intensity of Harshit Rana,
who bowled impeccable lengths in his opening spell and dismissed two of their batters. His sharp start created pressure
that the rest of the batting line-up failed to shake off.
Both these signs point toward changes in the South African line-up for the next match, and they are likely to make at
least two adjustments. Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj, who were rested in the first match, are expected to return, with
Ryan Rickelton and Prenelan Subrayen likely to make way. Their presence adds experience and balance, which South Africa
will need badly in Raipur.
Rejuvenated by the presence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the Indian team finally hit back at South Africa for the
first time in the bilateral series. Playing at Ranchi's JSCA Stadium, India victory did not come easy though. The hosts
beat the Proteas in the opening ODI by 17 runs in what turned into a nervy and unpredictable battle. The two veterans
emerged as the heroes of the match, producing superlative knocks that helped the hosts set a challenging target for the
Rohit and Virat were the centre of attention in Ranchi last Sunday, and the surrounding excitement will remain just as
intense ahead of the second ODI in Raipur on Wednesday, December 3. Raipur, which does not host international matches
often, has dressed up to welcome the duo, aware that the city might be witnessing two legends in the final couple of
years of their careers. There is a sense of occasion around their presence that the fans and the organisers have
And that sense of excitement is valid. What the senior duo did in the opening ODI commands that respect. The methods
that Rohit and Virat applied in Ranchi again showed that the duo are desperate to secure their spots on the teamsheet
for the 2027 World Cup. They know very well, especially after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, that the difference
between boarding a flight to South Africa for that tournament and being left at home could come down to just a couple of
innings. That fine margin has forced them into a mindset where every knock feels like part audition and part statement.
Because of that, both have ensured they treat every innings as if it were their last meaningful opportunity. Rohit has
returned to the role of an accumulator, a shift that has helped him produce three fifty-plus scores in his last three
innings, a level of consistency that fans had not witnessed from him in quite some time. On the other hand, Virat Kohli
appeared to find an extra gear, rediscovering that almost childish joy in batting that many believed had been subdued by
years of meticulous discipline and mechanical perfection, the very attributes that helped him become one of the most
dominant batters of his era.
Things are expected to remain largely unchanged for India in the Raipur ODI. The team is unlikely to make major
alterations from the Ranchi outing unless they want to experiment with Tilak Varma or Rishabh Pant in the batting
line-up. One of those two could slot in for Washington Sundar, who did not offer much with either bat or ball in the
previous game. The management may see this as the right moment to test depth without disturbing the overall balance of