How does dew affect the ODI match in Ranchi?

Dew significantly lowers the par score for teams batting first and makes chasing much harder, potentially increasing scores by around 70 runs.

What selection headache does dew cause India?

India struggles to decide between spinners like Washington Sundar and Nitish Reddy, as dew makes it difficult for spinners to grip the ball effectively.

How is South Africa adapting to the ODI conditions?

South Africa is using the series to give chances to young players and adapting to dew by selecting more pace bowlers.

Home / Sports / Dew's Double Game: India's ODI Selection Dilemma

Dew's Double Game: India's ODI Selection Dilemma

3 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Dew significantly impacts batting par scores in Ranchi ODIs.
India faces tough selection choices due to dew's effect on spinners.
South Africa is adapting to dew by focusing on young players.

Dew's Double Game: India's ODI Selection Dilemma

The recent ODI in Ranchi demonstrated the significant influence of dew, drastically altering expected scores and presenting teams with unique challenges. Dew's presence made chasing a formidable task, with potential scores soaring, and influenced tactical decisions regarding player selection, particularly for the Indian squad.

India faces a pressing dilemma in selecting their playing eleven, weighing the effectiveness of spinners like Washington Sundar against the challenges posed by a dewy ball. This contrasts with South Africa's strategy of packing their side with pacers to mitigate dew's impact, while also using the series to blood new talent.

The series also introduces a new ICC rule affecting ball usage, which inadvertently favors batting-heavy teams like South Africa, especially with dew present. As the teams move to Raipur, the larger stadium offers a potential countermeasure for bowlers, but the overarching theme remains the unpredictable role of dew in shaping match outcomes.