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RANCHI, India, Nov 29, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - India's stand-in skipper K.L. Rahul 
said on Saturday his team was feeling confident with the return of stalwarts 
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as they try to move on from the South Africa 
Test debacle.

South Africa inflicted a record 408-run defeat on India in the second Test in 
Guwahati on Wednesday to clinch the series 2-0.

It was India's fifth defeat in their past seven home Tests dating back just 
over a year to New Zealand's 3-0 sweep.

India now head into a three-match one-day series with South Africa, starting 
on Sunday.

Star batsmen Kohli and Rohit, who have retired from Test and Twenty20 
cricket, have returned for the 50-over matches.

"Their importance at any time is huge," Rahul told a news conference in 
Ranchi in eastern India.

"To have senior players in the team makes the dressing room feel a lot more 
confident and their presence (and) experience helps a lot of players in the 
dressing room. I am really happy they are here," he said.

Rahul, who is leading the side in the absence of the injured Shubman Gill, 
also admitted that the team was "disappointed and hurt" at losing the Test 
series.

"But it's important to forget that and focus on how to win this (ODI) series. 
That conversation is happening," he said.

The one-day series will be followed by five Twenty20 internationals.