India’s captain KL Rahul during a training session on the eve of the first ODI cricket match of a series between India and South Africa, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. (PTI Photo)South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma said that unlike the Test series situation where the sudden injury to captain Shubman Gill might have unsettled the Indian unit, KL Rahul, who is set to lead in the 3-match ODI series, will have had a bit more time to process getting appointed as the captain.
The South African skipper also said that with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma returning to the Indian fold to play the OODI series, a little bit of pressure will be offloaded from Rahul.
“If you look at the Test series, that was something that worked in our favour. To lose their captain in a big series, I think it’s not easy to just replace him. I mean also as a player, as a batter as well. He fulfils a big and integrated role within their batting with the guys generally kind of bat around him. So I think within the Test series, that was a big loss for them,” Bavuma said on Star Sports.
Temba Bavuma talks about how difficult it is to replace a captain and a key batter in the middle of a series, and the challenges KL Rahul will face. 🧐
Will Team India settle the score in the ODIs? 🔥#INDvSA 1st ODI | SUN, 30 NOV, 12:30 PM pic.twitter.com/c0wLBHl6hY
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 29, 2025
“I think in the ODI setup, you know I mean at least KL Rahul, he’s the stand-in captain. He’s had a little bit more time to come to terms with I guess the prospect of being captain. He would have had tome at least to prepare and really come to terms on what he needs to do. I thin he’s probably in a bit of a better situation and having guys like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma back into the team. so I think those guys will naturally take on a little bit more responsibility and kind of offload the pressure on him,” he added.
Gill got injured in the 1st Test in Kolkata and he left the field clutching his neck. He was hospitalized later in the day and while he improved, it wasn’t enough for him to make a comeback in this series.
The skipper was subsequently ruled out of 2nd Test in Guwahati as well as the ODI series. Regular vice-captain Shreyas Iyer also misses the series after he was injured taking a catch in the Australia series last month. He was admitted to a hospital in Sydney to due a laceration of the spleen with internal bleeding and was discharged after a few days.
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