India beat South Africa by 17 runs in a high‑scoring first ODI at Ranchi, taking a 1–0 lead in the three‑match series after Virat Kohli’s masterclass set up a tense finish.
Match Overview
India posted a formidable 349/8 in 50 overs, built around Virat Kohli’s 52nd ODI hundred and solid top‑order support. In reply, South Africa recovered from a horror start to finish 332 all out in 49.2 overs, falling just short despite a stunning lower‑order fightback.
Indian Innings Highlights
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli anchored India after an early Yashasvi Jaiswal dismissal, adding a century‑plus stand that shifted momentum. Kohli’s 135 was the centerpiece, with KL Rahul’s 60 and Rohit’s 57 ensuring India maximised the platform to reach 349/8 on a good batting surface. South Africa’s attack, led by Ottneil Baartman and supported by the likes of Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch, pulled things back at the death to prevent a 370+ total.
South Africa’s Chase and Collapse
India’s new‑ball pair Arshdeep Singh and debutant Harshit Rana ripped through the top order, reducing South Africa to 11/3 and silencing the chase early. The visitors rebuilt through important partnerships featuring Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis and Matthew Breetzke, dragging the score from 77/4 to 130/5 and then well past 200.
Jansen–Breetzke–Bosch Fightback
The game flipped when Matthew Breetzke and Marco Jansen counter‑attacked, adding 97 off just 69 balls to bring the equation down to a very chaseable margin. After Jansen’s 70 off 39 and Breetzke’s 72 off 80, Corbin Bosch’s explosive 67 off 51 almost stole the match, taking South Africa to 332 before he fell with 18 needed off the final over.
Bowling Heroes and Key Turning Points
Kuldeep Yadav’s four‑wicket spell, including the double strike of Jansen and Breetzke in the same over, was the decisive bowling performance that broke South Africa’s momentum. Harshit Rana’s three early wickets and Arshdeep Singh’s two new‑ball strikes ensured India’s early dominance, while Prasidh Krishna and Ravindra Jadeja provided crucial support at the back end. Kohli was deservedly named Player of the Match for his match‑defining 135 that ultimately proved the difference between the two sides.
