Renowned commentator Ravi Shastri stole the show with a touch of humour before the toss of the ongoing first ODI between India and South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday, November 30. Shastri referred to the venue as “Dhoni-land” in honour of hometown hero MS Dhoni, which drew loud cheers from the crowd.
Stand-in captain KL Rahul ended up on the wrong side of the toss as Proteas skipper Aiden Markram opted to bowl first in the opening game of the three-match series. The visiting team made a couple of notable changes to their lineup, resting regular captain Temba Bavuma and senior spinner Keshav Maharaj.
We Come Up for Toss Time in Dhoni-Land - Ravi Shastri Delights MS Dhoni Fans
At the toss in Ranchi, Ravi Shastri reminded everyone that the match was taking place in MS Dhoni’s hometown. Shastri’s comments delighted fans who know how special the city is to Dhoni.
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"We are in the state of Jharkhand, in Ranchi, home to the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni. And this is the venue for the first ODI between India and South Africa, as we come up for toss time in Dhoni-land," Shastri said.
KL Rahul’s Early Coin Flip Attempt Interrupts Toss Proceedings
KL Rahul had a funny moment at the toss in Ranchi. As soon as he reached the centre with Aiden Markram, he hugged the South Africa captain and quickly got ready to spin the coin. Rahul moved too fast, trying to flip it before Ravi Shastri had even finished introducing the two captains.
Shastri paused and told Rahul, “You’ve got to hang on, KL,” which made Rahul smile as he waited for the cue. After Shastri completed his introduction, the toss finally went ahead.
The toss fell in South Africa’s favour. Markram chose to bowl first, and Rahul seemed to know the outcome instantly. The Indian players knew that they would be batting even before Markram spoke into the microphone.
This Is a Great Chance To Challenge Our Skills - KL Rahul
After ending up on the wrong side of the toss, KL Rahul said that he would have preferred to bowl first. He noted that the team’s preparation had been solid. Rahul added that the message within the group was to enjoy the game and make the most of every opportunity in the ODI setup.
“We would have bowled first as well. The preparation has been good, the energy is there with a lot of players coming back, we want to enjoy ourselves in the middle. That's what the chat has been, we need to use every opportunity we get in the ODI team, this is a great chance to challenge our skills against a very good team. Three spinners and three quicks for us today,” Rahul said.
India entered the match without their regular captain, Shubman Gill. Rohit Sharma walked out to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. The team opted for a balanced attack featuring three pacers and three spinners. Ruturaj Gaikwad was placed in the middle order, and Washington Sundar was expected to bat at 5.
Also read: Virat Kohli informs BCCI about his Domestic Cricket availability future
Ravi Shastri steals show with ‘Dhoni-land’ comment at toss in Ranchi, snaps at ‘cheeky’ KL Rahul
Published - 30 Nov 2025, 02:45 PM | Updated - 30 Nov 2025, 02:47 PM
Renowned commentator Ravi Shastri stole the show with a touch of humour before the toss of the ongoing first ODI between India and South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday, November 30. Shastri referred to the venue as “Dhoni-land” in honour of hometown hero MS Dhoni, which drew loud cheers from the crowd.
Stand-in captain KL Rahul ended up on the wrong side of the toss as Proteas skipper Aiden Markram opted to bowl first in the opening game of the three-match series. The visiting team made a couple of notable changes to their lineup, resting regular captain Temba Bavuma and senior spinner Keshav Maharaj.
We Come Up for Toss Time in Dhoni-Land - Ravi Shastri Delights MS Dhoni Fans
At the toss in Ranchi, Ravi Shastri reminded everyone that the match was taking place in MS Dhoni’s hometown. Shastri’s comments delighted fans who know how special the city is to Dhoni.
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"We are in the state of Jharkhand, in Ranchi, home to the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni. And this is the venue for the first ODI between India and South Africa, as we come up for toss time in Dhoni-land," Shastri said.
KL Rahul’s Early Coin Flip Attempt Interrupts Toss Proceedings
KL Rahul had a funny moment at the toss in Ranchi. As soon as he reached the centre with Aiden Markram, he hugged the South Africa captain and quickly got ready to spin the coin. Rahul moved too fast, trying to flip it before Ravi Shastri had even finished introducing the two captains.
Shastri paused and told Rahul, “You’ve got to hang on, KL,” which made Rahul smile as he waited for the cue. After Shastri completed his introduction, the toss finally went ahead.
The toss fell in South Africa’s favour. Markram chose to bowl first, and Rahul seemed to know the outcome instantly. The Indian players knew that they would be batting even before Markram spoke into the microphone.
This Is a Great Chance To Challenge Our Skills - KL Rahul
After ending up on the wrong side of the toss, KL Rahul said that he would have preferred to bowl first. He noted that the team’s preparation had been solid. Rahul added that the message within the group was to enjoy the game and make the most of every opportunity in the ODI setup.
“We would have bowled first as well. The preparation has been good, the energy is there with a lot of players coming back, we want to enjoy ourselves in the middle. That's what the chat has been, we need to use every opportunity we get in the ODI team, this is a great chance to challenge our skills against a very good team. Three spinners and three quicks for us today,” Rahul said.
India entered the match without their regular captain, Shubman Gill. Rohit Sharma walked out to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. The team opted for a balanced attack featuring three pacers and three spinners. Ruturaj Gaikwad was placed in the middle order, and Washington Sundar was expected to bat at 5.
Also read: Virat Kohli informs BCCI about his Domestic Cricket availability future
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Ravi Shastri KL Rahul Aiden Markram India National Cricket Team India vs South Africa South Africa vs India South Africa National Cricket TeamAbout the Author
Sai Vaitla is an author at Cricketaddictor and he has been working since September 2022. Sai Vaitla... Read more