What a rollercoaster of a match. Coming into this ODI series, the mood was a little tense. Team India was smarting from a 0-2 Test series whitewash and dealing with a string of unfortunate injuries. We should also mention With Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer both sidelined, the leadership baton was passed to a third different captain, KL Rahul. But the headlines were all about the return of the considerable guns, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, to the ODI format. And boy, did they deliver in Ranchi.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Virat Kohli smashed a phenomenal 135 off 120 balls, securing his 52nd ODI century.
- ✓ India posted a massive total of 349, thanks to key contributions from KL Rahul (60) and Rohit Sharma.
- ✓ South Africa's chase started disastrously, collapsing to 11 for 3 in under five overs.
- ✓ A stunning counter-attack from Marco Jansen (70 off 39) and Matthew Breetzke (72) brought the Proteas back into the game.
- ✓ Kuldeep Yadav turned the match on its head, dismissing both Jansen and Breetzke in the same crucial over.
The Stage Was Set in Ranchi
Let's be honest, ODIs can sometimes feel like the forgotten middle child between the intensity of Tests and the glamour of T20s. But this series felt different. For India, it was about redemption. Industry experts suggest that For South Africa, it was about continuing their dominance from the Test series. The Proteas, nearly at full strength aside from the injured Kagiso Rabada, were riding a wave of confidence.
The Indian camp had its own puzzles to solve. With Gill out, who would open with Rohit. The consensus, echoed by folks like cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra, was that Yashasvi Jaiswal was next in the pecking order. Chopra made a great point: "He won't be getting many opportunities so he needs to grab the ones he gets. " There was also talk about the middle order, with Ruturaj Gaikwad and even Rishabh Pant in the mix. It was a classic case of musical chairs caused by injuries.
At the toss, India's rotten luck continued—they lost their 19th consecutive ODI toss. South Africa's stand-in skipper Aiden Markram had no hesitation in bowling first, banking on the evening dew to construct chasing easier. It was a decision that, for a long time, looked like a massive miscalculation.
The Kohli Show: A Record-Breaking Masterclass
Things didn't start perfectly for India. Jaiswal, looking to be aggressive, poked at a delivery from Nandre Burger in the fourth over and nicked it behind. Analysts note that In walked Virat Kohli to a huge roar from the Ranchi crowd, and from that moment, the game's complexion changed entirely. Recent reports indicate that
Rohit got an early life when Tony de Zorzi dropped an absolute sitter on the boundary. You just can't give a player of his caliber a second chance. He and Kohli settled in and began to motor along. They put on a magnificent 134-run stand that completely deflated the South African attack. Kohli, in particular, looked in imperious touch, dancing down the track to the pacers with an ease that spelled danger for the opposition. Current trends reveal that
After Rohit was dismissed by Marco Jansen, the stage was set for Kohli. A notable point here is He moved through the gears, and as he neared his hundred, the entire stadium was on its feet. He brought it up in style, punching the air in delight before kissing the ring he wears around his neck. This was his 52nd century in ODIs, putting him in a league of his own. His final score of 135 from 120 balls was the backbone of India's innings. Later, captain KL Rahul played a crucial hand, shaking off a slow start to finish with a brisk 60 off 56 balls, pushing India to a mammoth total of 349.
A Disastrous Start and a Furious Fightback
When South Africa came out to bat, you felt the chase was already a foregone conclusion. And for a while, it certainly looked that way. One key aspect to consider is Harshit Rana was on fire, making the ball talk. He knocked over Ryan Rickelton, and in the same over, had Quinton de Kock caught behind. When Arshdeep Singh got Markram to edge one, South Africa were in absolute tatters at 11 for 3. It was a nightmare start. From a news perspective,
But cricket is a funny conventional game, isn't it. Just when India could smell a massive victory, the Proteas began to fight back. A partnership started to build, but it was when Marco Jansen came to the crease that the fireworks really began. The tall all-rounder was in no mood to hang around. He launched a brutal counter-attack, smashing 15 runs off one Kuldeep Yadav over alone. He raced to his half-century in just 26 balls.
At the other end, Matthew Breetzke, a player with a huge reputation, was playing the anchor role perfectly. Market evidence demonstrates that He brought up his own fifty in 55 balls and kept the scoreboard ticking. The duo kept the required run rate in check, and suddenly, the impossible started to look possible. Recent reports indicate that With 18 overs to go, they needed 127 runs. The pressure was slowly shifting back onto India.
Kuldeep Yadav: The Game Changer
Just as the tension in the stadium was becoming unbearable, KL Rahul threw the ball back to his trump card, Kuldeep Yadav. It was a masterstroke. On the very first ball of the 34th over, he tossed one up to Jansen, who went for another considerable shot but holed out. The sigh of relief from the Indian camp was audible. In the commentary box, Sunil Gavaskar's voice boomed, "That's a considerable, considerable, considerable, considerable, wicket".
But Kuldeep wasn't done. A few balls later, he got the other set batsman. He completely bamboozled Matthew Breetzke, trapping him in front of the stumps. In the space of one over, the game was turned on its head. South Africa had gone from 227/5, with a real chance of winning, to 228/7 with both their heroes back in the pavilion. That, right there, was the match.
Conclusion
In the end, India secured the win, but it was far from the cakewalk it looked like it would be after the first innings. The match was a brilliant showcase of ODI cricket: a legendary batsman hitting a record-breaking century, a top-order collapse, a breathtaking counter-attack, and a spinner turning the game with a single, magical over. It was a reminder that even a massive score of 349 isn't always safe. What a way to kick off the series.
