India vs South Africa Prediction & Match Preview – 2nd ODI, Raipur
Match summary
Our preview of India v South Africa in the 2nd ODI at Raipur: how the opener went, key players, likely XIs, pitch and weather notes, and expected scores.
Match details
| Match | India vs South Africa, 2nd ODI |
|---|---|
| Series | South Africa tour of India 2025 |
| Date | 3 Dec 2025 |
| Start time | 8:00 am GMT / 1:30 pm local |
| Venue | Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | India |
| Toss pick | India |
Matches in this series
Match preview
India go into the second ODI in Raipur with a series lead after a commanding start. Virat Kohli’s 135 off 120 balls powered a massive 349 in the first game, and the bowlers sealed the win in the final over, although the attack lacks extensive experience across different conditions. Rohit Sharma, who has scored 50 or more in each of his last three outings, offers stability, Yashasvi Jaiswal can provide a quick start, and Ruturaj Gaikwad and KL Rahul consolidate in the middle overs. Rahul made a quick 60 off 56 in the opener.
With the ball, Harshit Rana took three wickets and Arshdeep Singh kept things tight, Prasidh Krishna adds variety although he can leak runs, and Kuldeep Yadav was superb with four wickets in the opener.
South Africa enter with confidence despite the defeat, having recovered from 11-3 on a high-scoring pitch to post 332. Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock, who has six ODI hundreds against India, lead the top order, with Matthew Breetzke, who made 72 off 80 balls and averages 68 in ODIs this year, and Tony de Zorzi in the middle. Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch struck fifties and nearly engineered a comeback, and Nandre Burger and Bosch took four wickets between them, with Jansen and Ottneil Baartman picking up two each.
Raipur usually offers a balanced contest. Fast bowlers get some movement and decent bounce early, which can make strokeplay tricky for openers, before the pitch settles and batters play more freely. The surface can slow a little and bring spinners into the game in the middle overs. Chasing sides have often done well here in shorter formats, and disciplined bowling and smart batting tend to decide matches.
A warm, dry afternoon is expected in Raipur, with temperatures typically in the 26–28°C range and low humidity. December is among the driest months there, so rain is extremely unlikely and skies should be mostly sunny.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 330–350 | – |
| Second innings | 320–340 | – |
India
India’s batting has been firing in all phases, and the bowlers delivered under pressure in the opener, although South Africa showed real resilience.
Toss pick: India
FAQ
What happened in the first ODI?
India made 349, led by Virat Kohli’s 135 off 120 balls, and held on for the win. South Africa recovered from 11-3 to reach 332.
Who impressed for South Africa in the opener?
Matthew Breetzke made 72 off 80, and Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch hit fifties, nearly pulling off a comeback.
Who does our preview pick for the 2nd ODI?
We pick India, who we also expect to win the toss.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
India
- Rohit Sharma
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Virat Kohli
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Washington Sundar
- KL Rahulc, wk
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Harshit Rana
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Prasidh Krishna
South Africa
- Temba Bavumac
- Quinton de Kockwk
- Aiden Markram
- Matthew Breetzke
- Tony de Zorzi
- Dewald Brevis
- Marco Jansen
- Corbin Bosch
- Prenelan Subrayen / Keshav Maharaj
- Nandre Burger
- Ottneil Baartman
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of India and South Africa that we covered.