Some nights in cricket, everything feels perfectly scripted. Under the bright lights in Raipur, with over 60,000 fans roaring, India posted a mammoth 358 on the board. Virat Kohli had another masterclass century, his second in a row, and Ruturaj Gaikwad announced his arrival with a maiden ODI ton. The stage was set, the total felt imposing, and victory seemed inevitable. But cricket has a funny way of tearing up the script, doesn't it?
Key Highlights
- ✓ South Africa chased down a massive target of 359, their third-highest successful ODI chase ever.
- ✓ Three stunning centuries were scored in the match: Virat Kohli (102), Ruturaj Gaikwad (105), and Aiden Markram (110).
- ✓ Kohli and Gaikwad put on a record 195-run partnership for India against South Africa.
- ✓ Despite a huge total, India's struggles in the death overs were exposed, scoring just 74 runs in the final 11 overs.
- ✓ Virat Kohli scored a century at his 34th different ODI venue, equalling Sachin Tendulkar's record.
South Africa's Chase for the Ages
When you're chasing 359, you need more than just hope; you need conviction. And that's exactly what South Africa brought to the middle. Their chase wasn't chaotic or frantic; it was a calculated, confident march towards a historic victory. The architect of this incredible feat was Aiden Markram, whose brilliant 110 was a masterclass in controlled aggression. It was his first-ever century against India, and he couldn't have picked a better time for it.
He found able partners all through the innings, first building a solid 101-run stand with Temba Bavuma (46) to lay the foundation. But the real game-changer? That had to be Dewald Brevis. He walked in and played with the kind of freedom that completely shifted the pressure back onto India, smashing a blistering 54 off just 34 balls. His partnership with Matthew Breetzke, who continued his own fine form with a solid 68, added 92 runs in a mere 63 balls, putting South Africa firmly in the driver's seat.
This chase was monumental. It tied the record for the highest successful ODI chase against India, matching Australia's effort in Mohali back in 2019. For South Africa, it was their third-highest chase ever, sitting just behind the legendary 435 against Australia. Even when a few wickets fell late in the game, Corbin Bosch and Keshav Maharaj calmly guided their team home with four balls to spare, levelling the series at 1-1.
A Tale of Two Halves: India's Dominance and the Final Stumble
Let's rewind a bit, because before South Africa's heroics, the night belonged to India's batsmen. For about 40 overs, they were absolutely dominant. Virat Kohli was sublime, scoring 102 off 93 balls, continuing his ridiculous run of form. Alongside him, Ruturaj Gaikwad truly came of age, hitting a fluent 105 from 83 balls. His century was the fastest by an Indian against South Africa, second only to Yusuf Pathan’s 68-ball effort in 2011.
Together, Kohli and Gaikwad stitched together a magnificent 195-run partnership for the third wicket. This wasn't just big; it was the highest partnership for India against South Africa in an ODI for any wicket, ever. At 284 for 3 in the 39th over, a total of 380, maybe even 400, seemed well within reach. But then, the momentum just vanished.
The final 11 overs produced only 74 runs. In the last five, India managed just 41. Washington Sundar struggled, making 1 off 8 balls, while Ravindra Jadeja couldn't find his timing, managing a slow 24 off 27. It left KL Rahul, who played a composed knock of 66 not out off 43 balls, with too much to do on his own. That seemingly massive total of 358 suddenly felt about 20 or 30 runs short of what it should have been.
The Recurring Nightmare of the Finisher
If this story feels familiar, that's because it is. This is a problem that has plagued Indian cricket for years, and it was painfully evident in the 2023 World Cup final. The search for a reliable finisher, someone who can walk in during the last 10 overs and consistently find the boundary, continues. With Hardik Pandya sidelined with injuries, the void is more glaring than ever.
KL Rahul has actually been India's best death-overs batter since 2023, scoring 424 runs at a strike rate of 142.76. But his natural game is to anchor and guide the innings, not to be the lone enforcer at the death. Asking him to do both just isn't a sustainable strategy. The team management needs to look ahead to the 2027 World Cup and start building now.
Names like Rinku Singh, known for his calm under pressure and ability to strike from ball one, and Riyan Parag, who has shown all-round growth, are being discussed for a reason. They offer a different kind of intent and fearlessness that India desperately needs in those crucial final overs. The truth is, without a proper finishing blueprint, chasing teams will always feel they have a chance, no matter how big the total looks.
King Kohli's Record-Breaking Spree Continues
Even in a losing cause, you just can't ignore the sheer genius of Virat Kohli. The man is a walking, talking record book. His century in Raipur was his 53rd in ODIs, but the numbers behind it are just staggering. Raipur became the 34th different venue where he has scored an ODI hundred, levelling the legendary Sachin Tendulkar for the most in history. Just think about that for a second—scoring a century in 34 different cities around the world is a testament to his adaptability and consistency.
His love affair with scoring against South Africa also continued. This was his seventh ODI ton against the Proteas, the most by any batsman. He's now scored seven or more hundreds against four different teams (Sri Lanka, West Indies, Australia, and South Africa), a feat only matched by Tendulkar. What’s more, his conversion rate is simply off the charts. Of his 128 fifty-plus scores in ODIs, he has converted 53 into centuries—a rate of 41.4%, the highest among all batsmen with at least 100 innings.
Conclusion
So, what do we take away from this thriller in Raipur? It was a spectacular display of batting from both sides, a true run-fest that gave us three incredible centuries and a record chase. South Africa showed immense character and depth to pull off a victory that levels the series and sets up a tantalizing decider in Visakhapatnam. For India, it’s a bittersweet pill to swallow.
The brilliance of Kohli and Gaikwad provided a perfect platform, but the familiar cracks in the lower-middle order appeared at the worst possible time. The match served as another stark reminder that in modern ODI cricket, especially on flat pitches where dew is a factor, a good finish is just as important as a good start. The quest for that elusive, explosive finisher remains India’s most urgent puzzle to solve.
