Post by : Meena Ariff

Ranchi witnessed a thrilling cricket spectacle as former captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma delighted fans with a 136-run second-wicket partnership, guiding India to a strong total of 349-8 and a 17-run victory over South Africa in the opening ODI.

Speaking after the match, Indian captain KL Rahul said, "It's always fun to watch them play like that, play with freedom, put the opposition under pressure, and show the world their class."

Sent in to bat after losing the toss for the 19th consecutive ODI, India suffered an early blow when Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for 18 in the fourth over, making way for Kohli. A dropped catch off Rohit in the same over allowed the experienced duo to settle and build a match-defining partnership. Sharma reached his fifty in 43 balls, hitting back-to-back sixes off spinner Prenelan Subrayen, before being dismissed lbw by Marco Jansen.

After India were reduced to 200-4, KL Rahul contributed a steady 60 runs while Kohli launched an aggressive counterattack, scoring 135 off 120 balls, featuring seven sixes and 11 fours. Ravindra Jadeja added a quick 32 off 20 deliveries, helping India finish with a commanding total.

South Africa’s innings began on shaky ground, losing Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock, and Aiden Markram cheaply. The middle-order duo of Matthew Breetzke (72) and Marco Jansen (70) staged a recovery, taking South Africa to 227-5. However, Kuldeep Yadav turned the game with a four-wicket haul, including the crucial dismissals of Breetzke and Jansen, shifting momentum back in India’s favor.

In the final overs, Corbin Bosch scored a determined 67 off 51 balls for South Africa, supported by Nandre Burger, but their efforts fell short as India’s bowlers held firm. South Africa ended at 332, handing India a hard-fought 17-run win.

The two teams will face off again on Wednesday in Raipur for the second ODI, promising another exciting encounter.

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