Ruturaj Gaikwad smashed his maiden ODI century off 77 balls in Raipur, but India lost by four wickets despite posting 358/5 against South Africa. The knock intensified competition for the No. 4 spot, pressuring Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer. The series is now level at 1-1.
In the second ODI on December 3, 2025, in Raipur, India won the toss and batted first, scoring 358/5 in 50 overs. Ruturaj Gaikwad, batting at No. 4, notched his maiden ODI century with 105 off 77 balls, the second-fastest against South Africa—Yusuf Pathan's record stands at 68 balls. Virat Kohli scored 102, his 53rd ODI ton, forming a 195-run partnership with Gaikwad.
South Africa chased the target with four wickets in hand and four balls to spare, thanks to Aiden Markram's 102, Matthew Breetzke's 68, Dewald Brevis's 54, and Temba Bavuma's 48, leveling the series at 1-1. It marked India's first ODI loss with a Kohli century in nearly seven years.
Gaikwad's return to ODIs after two years drew attention from team management. Head coach Gautam Gambhir had messaged him to embrace the No. 4 role, and Gaikwad said post-match he focused on playing naturally. Since January 1, 2024, Shreyas Iyer has been the most successful at No. 4—496 runs in 10 innings at an average of 49.60—but Gaikwad's 113 runs in two matches have ramped up pressure on Rishabh Pant (6 runs in one match) and Iyer. The decider is on December 6 in Visakhapatnam, where Gaikwad is set to play. India's finishing issues were exposed, leaving 20-30 runs on the field in the death overs.
