3 things India need to do right in the 1st ODI vs South Africa ft. not prioritizing batting depth

India will return to the 50-over format when they lock horns with South Africa in three encounters. The first ODI will commence on Sunday, November 30 at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi.

India lost their last ODI series against Australia, and not much needs to be said about their recent Test assignment against the Proteas. Coach Gautam Gambhir and the team are under real pressure and need to be perfect from a tactical perspective.

India's squad for the South Africa ODI series: KL Rahul (c), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel.

South Africa's squad for the India ODI series: Temba Bavuma (c), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Prenelan Subrayen.

On that note, here are three things India need to do right in the first ODI against South Africa.

---

#3 India need to prioritize their bowling over batting depth

Asia Cup Cricket - Source: Getty

India have often prioritized their batting depth across formats, and it hasn't worked for them in the longer ones. Having a specialist bowler at No. 8 who can win matches with his primary skill would go a long way in making the team a better force overall.

In Ranchi, India will need to pick four specialist bowlers. Kuldeep Yadav must play, and the presence of all three pacers - Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna - would give the captain enough resources across phases. If that means dropping either Nitish Kumar Reddy or Washington Sundar, the hosts will need to do it.

---

#2 Picking Rishabh Pant in the middle order would be a smart move

India v New Zealand: Final - ICC Champions Trophy 2025 - Source: Getty

Reports suggest that India are torn between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rishabh Pant to play at No. 4. The former seemingly has the edge right now, but it might be in the team's best interests to give Pant a return a format he has done fairly well in.

The left-hander could be key to India's chances through the middle overs, where Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram are expected to operate. He is also an assured player of pace and bounce, and having an aggressive option in that phase could help the hosts.

---

#1 India need to put the South African spinners under pressure right from the outset

England v South Africa - 1st Metro Bank ODI - Source: Getty

Speaking of Pant taking on Maharaj, India can't let the South African spinners settle. The left-arm spinner wasn't in particularly impressive form during the Test series, having been clearly outbowled by Simon Harmer.

Maharaj being taken for a few runs could seriously disrupt South Africa's plans through the middle overs. The fast bowlers aren't exactly outright wicket-taking options in that phase, and there's enough evidence to believe that the 11-40 over period is the most important in the 50-over format.