In the first ODI match of the South Africa tour of India 2025, India beat South Africa by 17 runs at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi.
With India put into bat first, the innings began with Yashasvi Jaiswal (18) hitting a couple boundaries. However, the southpaw batter left early, and the RO-KO pair took central stage. Rohit Sharma (57) scored a smooth fifty, consisting of five fours and three sixes, while Virat Kohli (135) looked dominating in his shot-making as he hammered his 83rd international century. His innings featured control, placing, and late-overs acceleration, guiding India through many mini-collapses. Even after Rohit’s dismissal, Kohli took command and formed a critical partnership with KL Rahul (60), who provided the ideal middle-overs stabiliser. Ravindra Jadeja (32) provided much-needed energy in the closing overs, ensuring India reached 340 despite late wickets.
South Africa had a dreadful start, slumping to 11/3, but recovered well in the middle overs. Matthew Breetzke (72) and Tony de Zorzi (39) kept the chase under control. The game shifted with Marco Jansen‘s stunning (70) counterattacking knock, which featured tremendous stroke play and propelled South Africa back into contention. Corbin Bosch (67) kept fighting, forming various partnerships to keep the target within reach. However, consistent wickets and a high asking rate finally ended their charge at 332.
Defending a huge target, India got off to a flying start, with Harshit Rana dismissing Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock in consecutive deliveries, sparking a top-order collapse. Kuldeep Yadav was the main performance, taking four wickets and breaking partnerships at vital occasions, including de Zorzi, Breetzke, Jansen, and Subrayen. To be more exact, Rana bowled aggressively and claimed three wickets, while Arshdeep Singh took two. Prasidh Krishna also claimed one wicket.
South Africa’s bowling showed moments of discipline, particularly from Nandre Burger and Ottneil Baartman, who each took two wickets, but they lacked breakthroughs in the middle overs, when Kohli dominated. Corbin Bosch and Ottneil Baartman both contributed with two wickets too.
With this win, India take a 1-0 lead into the series.
Scorecard:
India: 349/8, Overs 50, Virat Kohli 135, Ottneil Baartman 2/60
South Africa: 332/10, Overs 49.2, Matthew Breetzke 72, Kuldeep Yadav 4/68
